Kuala Lumpur: Rexy Mainaky, the Coaching Director of the Badminton Academy of Malaysia (ABM), has presented Ng Tze Yong with a challenge: to strive for victory in the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) if he aims to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Mainaky emphasized that it’s entirely up to Ng now, provided he truly desires to compete in the world’s most significant event. Ng is currently in the recovery process after undergoing surgery last month due to a back injury, and it is anticipated that he will participate in the BAC, the final qualification event for the Olympic Games.
“It’s all up to Tze Yong, whether he is confident enough to compete in the BAC,” stated Mainaky. “If not, it’s better to focus on the Thomas Cup or other championships.”
“The surest path for him to qualify for the Olympics is to claim victory in the BAC.”
“So, it’s all in his hands, whether he truly hungers to compete in the Olympics,” Mainaky added.
Having missed many tournaments earlier in the season due to a back injury, Ng Tze Yong’s chances of Olympic qualification seem slim, with him currently occupying the 18th position in the Race to Paris qualification rankings.
Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia has unofficially secured his ticket to Paris, sitting comfortably in the 10th position in the qualification rankings ahead of the April 28 deadline.
Each country is permitted to have two representatives in the individual events if they are within the top 16 in the Race to Paris rankings.
Meanwhile, providing updates on Ng Tze Yong’s recovery progress, Mainaky revealed that the player’s movements are still restricted on the court.
He highlighted that the main task for Ng Tze Yong is to overcome the setback from his injury to regain his confidence.
“Datuk Tey Seu Bock also informed me that during training in the gym, Tze Yong seemed a bit ‘fed up,’ wanting to do this or that.”
“We all want Tze Yong to be fully fit, but ultimately, it’s up to him whether he wants to push himself a little bit more because he understands his body condition better. We’re just monitoring and supporting him from the outside,” he concluded.
The BAC is scheduled to take place in Ningbo, China, from April 9 to 14.
