KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s men’s singles shuttler, Ng Tze Yong, has made an impressive move up the ranks, securing the 19th spot in the BWF Race to Paris ranking list, leaving his compatriot, Lee Zii Jia, trailing in 20th position.
The stakes are high for both players as they must break into the top 16 to earn the coveted opportunity to represent the country at next year’s Paris Olympics.
Speaking to Scoop, former men’s singles international Ong Ewe Hock said it is important for the players to seize every available opportunity to enhance performance, as the pressure mounts with each tournament, despite the qualification deadline being eight months away.
Ewe Hock added that it is also critical for them to manage the pressure, especially as they approach the pinnacle of their careers – the Olympics in July next year.
“It is without a doubt that the pressure intensifies with each tournament leading to the final date of Olympic qualification. They must focus on honing their ability to thrive under such circumstances.
“For now, anyone can see that Tze Yong has been playing well since the start of the season, but he has yet to establish consistent form,” he said.
Tze Yong’s notable achievements this season include reaching the quarter-finals in tournaments like the Thailand, All England, Swiss, Korea and Australian Open.
Zii Jia, on the other hand, reached the semi-finals at events like the All England, Swiss Open and Australian Open.
Ewe Hock, a former world number two, also said it is important to have strategic planning on the court to prevent injuries that could sideline shuttlers for months.
“Because if they do suffer any serious injuries, they would be forced to be taken out of the tournaments for a few months to recuperate, which could be detrimental to their ranking and future prospects.
“Hopefully Zii Jia can regain his best form soon, and Tze Yong should work on improving his consistency,” he added.
According to the Olympic qualification process for men’s and women’s singles events, it was noted that two quota places are awarded to National Olympic Committees (NOCs) with two athletes ranked within the top 16 in the Paris ranking lists.
Otherwise, only one quota spot is allocated per NOC.
As of the latest ranking as of yesterday, Tze Yong is the sole Malaysian shuttler to have qualified.
The qualification started on May 1 this year and will end on April 28, 2024. — September 13, 2023