Paris: Professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia has revealed that he went through 'a little bit of depression' during his five-month absence from the court as he battled injury and uncertainty over his career.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the 27-year-old is set to make his return this week at the World Championships 2025, to be held at the Adidas Arena in Paris, the same venue (the then Porte de la Chapelle Arena) where he clinched bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Zii Jia disclosed that he was not only dealing with injuries during those five months but also with stress and a bit of depression. The long absence from the sport was not normal for him, and he admitted that he considered stopping playing due to the injuries and related issues. This was his first experience with such a significant injury, which left him shocked and clueless.

Zii Jia injured his ankle during the World Tour Finals last December and made his return in March at the Orleans Masters, where he lost to Ireland's Nhat Nguyen in the quarter-finals. He also competed in the 2025 All England Championships in Birmingham but was knocked out in the first round by Hong Kong's Angus Ng Ka Long.

Following this, the former All England 2021 champion withdrew from the 2025 Swiss Open in Basel due to the same ankle injury. To manage his struggles, Zii Jia distanced himself from badminton news and social media, opting for a 'healing trip' that involved reading, solo travel, skydiving in Dubai, and visiting art museums in Abu Dhabi.

During his time away, Zii Jia developed an interest in art, finding solace in its ability to express both positive and negative emotions. Last July, he shared several mysterious posts that sparked speculation regarding their meaning.

The world number 52 Zii Jia is slated to open this year's world meet campaign against South Korea's world No. 38 Jeon Hyeok Jin.