PETALING JAYA: Concerns grew when men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia, gearing up for the Thomas Cup Finals, bowed out in the first round of the Swiss Open but his team saw the defeat in a positive light.

The Paris Olympics bronze medallist, who appeared uncomfortable throughout the match due to an apparent injury, went down 12-21, 14-21 to Singapore’s Jason Teh in just 28 minutes at Jakobsville Hall in Basel.