KUALA LUMPUR — If Ng Tze Yong is indeed facing the prospect of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, Malaysians should brace for a hard truth: the 25-year-old might never return to his best.
That was the sobering view offered by former national head coach Rashid Sidek, who drew on his decades of experience as a player and coach to caution against high expectations.
“Knee injuries are very difficult to get back to 100 per cent,” said Rashid, responding to speculation that Tze Yong has been advised to undergo ACL surgery following his latest injury at the Malaysia Masters two weeks ago.
“In my time as a coach, I had two players — Julia Wong and Norshaliza Baharum — who went through ACL surgeries. They came back and played, but were never the same. Not long after that, they both retired.”
Tze Yong, the Birmingham Commonwealth Games silver medallist, was forced to retire during his first-round match at the Malaysia Masters and was later withdrawn from both the Singapore and Indonesia Opens.
While the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) officially described it as a knee strain, sources told Scoop that surgery had been recommended — a claim neither BAM nor singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has publicly denied.
Rashid said even if Tze Yong undergoes a successful procedure, the challenges that follow are often underestimated — not just in Malaysia, but globally.
“Even at the highest level, in other sports, we rarely hear of top athletes being the same after this kind of injury,” said the former Thomas Cup winner.
“Ronaldo Nazário — the Brazilian football legend — was never quite the same after his knee issues. And in badminton, look at Spain’s Carolina Marin. She’s a former Olympic champion, but multiple injuries followed her ACL recovery.”
Rashid also cited Malaysian examples, including former mixed doubles shuttler Goh Liu Ying, who continued competing after knee surgeries but was visibly hampered in her movements and often needed knee guards.
“Yes, they can still play. But after training or matches, their knees swell up. It’s hard to see them go through that.”
He added that in Tze Yong’s case, the recovery process would be even more demanding because of the physical intensity of the men’s singles discipline.
“He’s not a doubles player. He has to cover more of the court. In badminton, your knees are absolutely crucial.
“And on top of that, his confidence would have taken a beating, especially since he only just returned from a long injury layoff. That mental toll is just as damaging.”
Rashid believes that seeking medical expertise abroad may be necessary to give Tze Yong a fighting chance at recovery.
“In Malaysia, we have good doctors, no doubt. But when it comes to very specific high-performance sports cases — like those involving ACL injuries — we may not have the kind of experts who deal with professional footballers or Olympians overseas.
“If surgery is needed, it’s not just about fixing the knee. It’s about setting him up for the best possible outcome. That might require going abroad.”
Tze Yong only resumed competition in April after more than a year out due to two back surgeries stemming from an injury sustained at the 2024 Malaysia Open.
A second long-term injury now, so soon after the first, could seriously jeopardise his career — a fact Rashid says must be addressed with realism.
Additionally, it is important to note that Tze Yong, who previously applied for a protected ranking from the Badminton World Federation (BWF), will not be eligible to apply again until 2027.
Under the world governing body’s rules, players are only eligible once every two years.
His current protected status expires this October, giving him only a short window to collect ranking points before losing access to top-tier events. — June 4, 2025