KUALA LUMPUR – National men’s singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong’s Olympic dream is over after he withdrew from the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Ningbo, China, scheduled for next week.
In a statement today, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) said that its medical team has assessed the 23-year-old’s match fitness and strength and concluded that he is not yet prepared to resume high-level training and competition as it could risk aggravating his injury.
“The surgeon, physio, coaches, and Tze Yong have all mutually agreed that he is not physically ready for the BAC, which is scheduled in two weeks,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, national team coaching director Rexy Mainaky said that the player’s health and wellbeing will always be the top priority.
“Tze Yong’s recovery and overall condition are paramount concerns for us. Based on the medical assessment, it is with a heavy heart that he will be withdrawn from competing in the BAC,” he said.
The Indonesian added that Tze Yong has progressed to light workouts but has yet to resume high-intensity training, including jumping.
“We will closely monitor his progress and condition in the coming weeks.
“Tze Yong has a promising career ahead and it’s essential to focus on his complete recovery,” said Rexy.
“Although his absence from the BAC will also rule him out of Paris, he is still young and will have opportunities to compete in future Olympics,” added Rexy.
‘Disappointed but will return stronger‘
At the same time, Tze Yong added that he was disappointed with the situation but understood that his health and recovery come first.
“I am grateful for the support of the medical team and my coaches. I am committed to focusing on my rehabilitation to return stronger.
“I look forward to getting back on the court as soon as possible and contributing to the team in the future,” said Tze Yong.
Rexy added that depending on Tze Yong’s progress and condition in the coming weeks, he may be considered for the Thomas Cup in May.
The BAC is the Johorian’s last chance to earn enough points for Olympic qualification as it is equivalent to a Super 1000 tournament.
But this withdrawal has confirmed that Tze Yong will miss the Paris Olympics in July.
He is currently 17th in the BWF Race to Paris rankings. For Malaysia to send two players to the Olympics, they both need to be in the top 16.
Independent men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia is currently 10th in the rankings.
Tze Yong’s injury woes started at the Malaysian Open in January, where he suffered a muscle tear in his back during his first-round clash against Koki Watanabe.
However, he recovered to play in the Badminton Asia Team Championships in February but had to withdraw from his semi-final clash against Singapore’s Jason Teh.
Malaysia still went on to defeat their neighbors 3-1.
BAM later revealed that he had injured his spine during the team championships and underwent back surgery. Recently, Scoop reported that the National Sports Institute was putting all its efforts to help get Tze Yong back on the court. – March 30, 2024