KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Lee Zii Jia is set to make his long-awaited return at the World Championships in Paris from Aug 25-31 after four months out with injury.

The former world No. 2 has confirmed his participation in the tournament, according to the Badminton World Federation's latest update on July 29. He received an invitation under a protected ranking status secured by his management, Team LZJ.

However, he still has until Aug 12 to pull out should he decide otherwise.

Zii Jia has been battling a left ankle ligament injury since December and has only played in two tournaments this year - the Orleans Masters and All-England in March, before the problem flared up again.

He was initially slated to return at the US Open in June but was forced to withdraw as he had yet to fully recover. The same issue also saw him miss the China Open and Japan Open earlier this month.

The 2021 All-England champion recently sparked concern after posting a series of cryptic sketches on social media, prompting fans to speculate about his mental health.

While some interpreted it as artistic expression, others feared it reflected his frustration and emotional toll from the prolonged layoff.

If he goes ahead with the Paris appearance, he will be joined by compatriot and world No. 24 Leong Jun Hao, who is making his World Championships debut.

Zii Jia, now ranked world No. 35, will be hoping for another memorable outing in the French capital, having won a bronze medal there at last year's Olympic Games.

Malaysia will also have two representatives in the women's singles - Goh Jin Wei and K. Letshanaa.

The draw for the tournament will be held on Aug 13.