Tze Yong Has Muscle Tear Ruled Out Of India Open

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National singles player Ng Tze Yong suffered an injury when he leapt to execute a smash against Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the Malaysia Open on Wednesday. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: National men’s singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong has been diagnosed with a back muscle tear and is ruled out for the India Open tournament next week.
Badminton Association of Malaysia secretary-general Kenny Goh said Tze Yong had undergone a checkup today. It was found that he suffered a back muscle tear.
Goh said the coaches will monitor his condition before deciding whether he will be at the Indonesia Masters (Jan 23-28).
Tze Yong, ranked world No 15, had to retire when trailing 8-12 to Japan’s Koki Watanabe in the first game of their first-round match in the Malaysia Open on Wednesday.
His defeat meant that no Malaysian men’s singles players advanced to the second round after professional shuttler Lee Zii Jia also crashed out in the opening round, losing 21-16, 19-21, 15-21 to Lu Guang Zu of China on Tuesday.
Tze Yong will need to recover quickly and regain his best form in the Badminton World Federation world tour to confirm his place in the 2024 Olympics in Paris on July 26-Aug 11.
With Zii Jia in 11th spot in the Race to Paris standings, 13th-placed Tze Yong must ensure he stays within the top 16 of that ranking.
Each country is allowed two representatives in the singles event if they are placed within the top 16 at the end of the Olympic qualifying period on April 28.
Akademi Badminton Malaysia coaching director Rexy Mainaky said Tze Yong will need several weeks to recover from the lower back muscle tear. - FMT

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