KUALA LUMPUR – Miracles in sports are not uncommon, yet for Malaysia’s men’s singles player, Ng Tze Yong, the challenge ahead is as daunting as scaling Mount Everest.
To keep his Paris Olympic Games aspirations alive, he must swiftly regain his peak form and secure victory at the upcoming Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) on April 9 in Ningbo, China.
Following back surgery last month, the Johor-born player currently struggles with mobility on the court, posing a significant obstacle to his competitive readiness.
Concerns loom over Tze Yong’s potential absence from the BAC, which could effectively close the Paris Olympics door for him.
Furthermore, there is uncertainty about his participation in the Malaysian squad for the Thomas Cup, slated for April 27 in Chengdu, China.
National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer Ahmad Faedzal Ramli said that they are doing their utmost to facilitate Tze Yong’s return to the court as soon as possible.
“At the moment, NSI’s focus is indeed to assist Tze Yong in carrying out rehabilitation sessions. Each session is conducted by our physiotherapists and monitored by our experts.
“Current data on Tze Yong’s condition is collected during each session, and all these processes are carried out according to a structured and organised plan tailored to his physical condition.
“Every piece of information gathered will be shared with BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) and NSC (National Sports Council).
“Decisions regarding Tze Yong’s return to training are made collaboratively with all involved parties, including himself, the coaching team, BAM, and NSC,” Faedzal told Scoop.
As per current rankings for the Paris Olympics, Tze Yong sits at 17th with 58,735 points.
To secure a spot, he needs to climb at least one step to join former Asian champion Lee Zii Jia, who will make his second appearance at the Paris Olympics in July.
At the BAC, Tze Yong is scheduled to face Chinese Taipei player Wang Tzu Wei in the first round. – March 28, 2024