Malaysian Young Talent Uses Medication for European Badminton Tournaments
Trang Napie
Sat Mar 02 2024
In a bid to secure a spot at the 2024 Olympic badminton event, promising young talent from Malaysia, Ng Tze Yong, ranked 16th globally, recently received medical treatment to alleviate his back pain. This move aims to aid his participation in European badminton competitions.
Ng Tze Yong, a standout player from Malaysia, was administered a dose of medication to ease his back discomfort during the Asian Team Badminton Championships 2024 in Shah Alam, Selangor. Rexy Mainaky, the head coach of the Badminton Academy of Malaysia (ABM), mentioned that the administered treatment at the National Sports Institute in Bukit Jalil is expected to facilitate Tze Yong's return to compete in the upcoming French Open 2024 scheduled from March 5th to 10th and the All England Open 2024 from March 12th to 17th.
Following a discussion with Tze Yong, Rexy Mainaky expressed optimism that successful treatment would enable Tze Yong to resume normal training. The 23-year-old player is currently undergoing light training post an injury sustained during the quarterfinals of the BATC 2024 against Singaporean player Jason Teh the previous Friday. Despite being ranked 16th globally, Tze Yong struggled in the match against Jason, lasting only about 3 minutes before withdrawing from the tournament when trailing 1-3.
Tze Yong is set to kickstart his campaign at the French Open 2024 against Su Li Yang from Taiwan, and at the All England Open 2024, he will face India's Lakshya Sen in the opening round. Rexy acknowledged Tze Yong's disappointment with his circumstances as he aims for a spot at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris scheduled from July 26th to August 11th. Tze Yong currently holds the 15th position in the Race to Paris ranking with 58,735 points.
As per the qualification criteria for Paris 2024, a total of 35 slots are available for badminton participants, with one slot reserved for the host nation and 2 global spots allocated to individual tournaments. A national association can have a maximum of 2 players in a singles category if both are in the top 16 after the conclusion of the Race to Paris qualifying phase slated to end on April 28th.
Ng Tze Yong's decision to undergo treatment to alleviate his back pain showcases his determination to excel in badminton and secure a coveted spot at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. His upcoming participation in the French Open and All England Open reflects his commitment to overcoming challenges and achieving success on the badminton court.