KUALA LUMPUR – The cause of Ng Tze Yong’s back injury remains shrouded in mystery, with national men’s singles coach Datuk Tey Seu Bock saying that he is eagerly awaiting a comprehensive medical report on the issue.
Yesterday, Tze Yong, ranked 15th in the world, withdrew from his match against Japanese player Koki Watanabe after injuring his back while executing a smash.
“After the match yesterday, we took Tze Yong to see a doctor, and he had a scan, but they could not diagnose the injury in detail.
“He had an appointment this morning, but it was cancelled and moved to 9am tomorrow, so I could not provide you with details about his injury until we get the full medical report from the doctors.
“I also want to know what the issue is with his back, whether it is a muscle tear or something else,” Seu Bock said to the media at Axiata Arena.
Despite Tze Yong’s back being heavily taped during the match against Watanabe, Seu Bock dismissed speculations that the 23-year-old carried an injury into the game.
“That is normal; every athlete will deal with little niggles now and again. Maybe he felt a little discomfort, so he had his back taped,” Seu Bock added.
The injury has raised concerns regarding Tze Yong’s qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“We are concerned a little, but after receiving the doctor’s report, we will assess whether he needs to pull out from the India Open next week.
“Now that he has provisionally missed two tournaments, the coaches will rearrange his schedule accordingly before the qualifying period ends in April,” added Akademi Badminton Malaysia coaching director Rexy Mainaky. – January 11, 2024