Kuala Lumpur: World No. 16 Men’s singles player from Malaysia, Ng Tze Yong, will have to undergo surgery for a back injury sustained during the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) last week.
Ng Tze Yong is expected to be in recovery lasting 2-6 weeks post-surgery, following an announcement from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). They state Ng is is expected to miss the French Open in Paris (March 5-10) and the All-England Open in Birmingham (March 12-17) for his recovery.
Following his recovery, further discussions about his future actions will be held. The BAM has expressed hope that Ng will return in time for the Spanish Masters in Madrid (March 26-31) and the Badminton Asia Championships in NingBo, China (April 9-14), considering his success in competitions such as the Arctic Open (runner-up).
As he continues his attempts to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, the clock is ticking. The qualification period ends at the end of April. Currently, he is ranked 15th in the qualification standings and he needs to be in the top 16 to secure a spot in Paris.
However, BAM’s president, Norza Zakaria, has reassured that Ng’s health takes much higher priority over the mission for qualification to the Olympics. He emphasized how the BAM values the well-being of players over ALL else. Although Zakaria does still hope Ng’s injury won’t hinder his participation in the Olympic qualification tournaments, health is still the top priority. BAM does not want to risk long-term injuries or difficulties if he is left to compete prematurely.
And as the qualification deadline approaches rapidly, BAM will be intensive care and assessment of Ng’s medical reports before deciding on his participation in the European tournaments such as the French Open, All-England Open, and Spanish Masters. Zakaria emphasized the need to thoroughly evaluate the medical info without forcing player participation.
