Jonassen can't comment for now on Tze Yong's situation
KUALA LUMPUR: Will Ng Tze Yong have to put away his racquet and go under the knife again?
As badminton fans discuss Tze Yong's situation, national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has not spoken much as to whether the shuttler requires surgery for his knee injury.
The 25-year-old sustained the injury during the first round of the Malaysia Masters two weeks ago. It was only his fourth tournament since returning from a 14-month layoff after two operations for a back injury.
His latest injury could be more serious than initially thought, potentially sidelining him for another extended period.
"I can't comment until we have gathered all the facts. We will update the public on his progress in due course," said Jonassen today.
Meanwhile, professional Lee Zii Jia is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained at the World Tour Finals in December.
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New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Tze Yong faces year out with ruptured ACL
KUALA LUMPUR: Men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong faces up to a year on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at the Malaysia Masters last month. The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games silver medallist will undergo surgery soon, with an expected recovery time of between nine and 12 months, confirmed national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen. "It's the worst-case scenario — a complete ACL tear," said Jonassen. "It will take between nine and 12 months before he can compete at the highest level again. "Tze Yong will go through surgery, and I will personally oversee his recovery. I really want to see him back on court." The news is a cruel blow for the 24-year-old, who had only just returned to action after a 14-month layoff following two back surgeries. To make matters worse, Tze Yong will not be granted a protected world ranking, which currently stands at No. 18 and would have allowed him to enter top-tier tournaments until September. But Jonassen insists that's not the priority. "Protected ranking is no longer a concern. The priority now is a full recovery and making sure he returns to the World Tour fit and ready," he said. World No. 199 Tze Yong suffered the injury during his second-round match against Hong Kong's world No. 23 Angus Ng. He had won the opening game 22-20 and was leading 4-3 in the second before landing awkwardly and damaging his right knee. Jonassen pointed to former Olympic champion Carolina Marin as inspiration for the Malaysian shuttler. The Spaniard, a three-time world champion, has returned to elite level after undergoing three ACL surgeries and even claimed a silver at the 2023 World Championships. "Our goal is to draw inspiration from players like Marin, who returned to the top after multiple ACL injuries. "We have a strong team to support Tze Yong's rehab. He was on the right track during the Malaysia Masters, and we want to help him get back there." Despite the setback, Tze Yong remains positive. "It's tough to accept, especially after all the hard work leading up to this point," said Tze Yong. "But I know this is just another challenge to overcome. I'm staying positive, following the rehab plan and fully focused on coming back stronger."
Barnama
12 hours ago
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ACL Injury Could Sideline Tze Yong For Up To A Year
KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) — National men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong is expected to be out of top-level competition for up to a year due to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he sustained at the recent Malaysia Masters. Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen said this is the worst-case scenario for Tze Yong, who is scheduled to undergo surgery. 'The operation date has not been set. It (surgery process) is quite technical, but what I understand is that the stronger you can get before the surgery, the better your recovery will be. bootstrap slideshow 'There are also some bruises and swelling that need to go away. Again, everything we're doing right now is to give him the best chance to have a successful surgery,' he told reporters at Akademi Badminton Malaysia, Bukit Kiara, here today. Jonassen acknowledged that recovering from an ACL injury is one of the most demanding challenges for an athlete, but the case of Spain's former Olympic champion Carolina Marin, who returned strongly after similar injuries, gave Tze Yong hope. Jonassen is confident that Tze Yong will find inspiration from her experience and make a comeback when the time is right. 'I can't speak for him (about the early retirement question), but from my understanding, he is very motivated to come back. 'As long as there's motivation, we must follow the path. We're taking inspiration from other top athletes who have managed to bounce back. I believe in Tze Yong's ability and determination,' he added. Jonassen clarified that Tze Yong will not be eligible for a second protected ranking as it can only be granted once within a particular period.
The Sun
13 hours ago
- The Sun
ACL injury could sideline Tze Yong for up to a year
KUALA LUMPUR: National men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong is expected to be out of top-level competition for up to a year due to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he sustained at the recent Malaysia Masters. Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen said this is the worst-case scenario for Tze Yong, who is scheduled to undergo surgery. 'The operation date has not been set. It (surgery process) is quite technical, but what I understand is that the stronger you can get before the surgery, the better your recovery will be. 'There are also some bruises and swelling that need to go away. Again, everything we're doing right now is to give him the best chance to have a successful surgery,' he told reporters at Akademi Badminton Malaysia, Bukit Kiara, here today. Jonassen acknowledged that recovering from an ACL injury is one of the most demanding challenges for an athlete, but the case of Spain's former Olympic champion Carolina Marin, who returned strongly after similar injuries, gave Tze Yong hope. Jonassen is confident that Tze Yong will find inspiration from her experience and make a comeback when the time is right. 'I can't speak for him (about the early retirement question), but from my understanding, he is very motivated to come back. 'As long as there's motivation, we must follow the path. We're taking inspiration from other top athletes who have managed to bounce back. I believe in Tze Yong's ability and determination,' he added. Jonassen clarified that Tze Yong will not be eligible for a second protected ranking as it can only be granted once within a particular period. 'My main concern right now isn't the rankings. It's about getting the surgery done, going through the rehabilitation, and keeping Tze Yong motivated,' he said. With Tze Yong's absence, Jonassen revealed plans to strengthen the senior men's singles squad by grooming juniors who are transitioning to the senior level this year. 'It's always a tough blow when one of your best players is out due to injury. But we will keep working hard to develop the next generation,' he said. This morning, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) confirmed that Tze Yong will undergo knee surgery after scans revealed the ACL injury. 'It's tough to accept, especially after all the hard work leading up to this point, but I know this is just another challenge to overcome. I'm staying positive, following the prehab plan, and I'm fully focused on coming back stronger. I also want to thank all my fans for your kind messages - it really means a lot to me,' said Tze Yong. Tze Yong has suffered various injuries, including a muscle tear in his back followed by a spinal injury since last year and underwent a long period of rest and rehabilitation before returning to action in the Badminton Asia Championship 2025 in Ningbo, China, in April.
