KUALA LUMPUR: In a new setback to Ng Tze Yong and Malaysian badminton, the world No. 18 is expected to face another period on the sidelines as he prepares for a second surgery to address his lower back problem.
Today, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) announced that the 23-year-old has been omitted from the Thomas Cup Finals squad due to his failure to fully recover from the injury he sustained during the Asia Team Championships in February.
Since then, Tze Yong has undergone surgery for his spinal disc issue, which BAM disclosed for the first time to be 'endoscopic spine surgery' in a statement issued today.
Following a successful procedure and Tze Yong's return to court training, BAM expressed optimism that he could overcome his fitness battle in time for the Finals in Chengdu from April 27 to May 5.
Unfortunately, his much-anticipated return will not materialise as he has reportedly developed a "very rare post-surgery condition" earlier this week.
Consequently, Tze Yong had to undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan to assess the extent of the problem.
"Following the successful endoscopic spine surgery, Tze Yong had recovered well and was progressing well in his on-court training programme," read the statement.
"Unfortunately, Tze Yong developed a very rare condition post-surgery which surfaced earlier this week.
"Following consultation both with the National Sports Institute doctor as well as the doctor who operated on him, Tze Yong will now undergo a surgical approach to improve his condition and advance his rehabilitation.
"As a result, he will have to undergo surgery and has been excluded from the Thomas Cup squad."
BAM coaching director Rexy Mainaky stressed that nothing takes precedence over Tze Yong's health and well-being.
"Tze Yong's health and well-being is the absolute priority. It is unfortunate he has suffered this but we must do what's best for Tze Yong and make sure he makes a full recovery.
"BAM will not compromise on his health and want him to focus on his recovery and rehabilitation."
It remains uncertain when Tze Yong will make his competitive comeback following this latest setback.
As of now, Tze Yong's name is listed for the Thailand Open and Malaysia Masters next month, but it seems unlikely that he will participate in either event. Should Tze Yong be out for a lengthy period, BAM could consider requesting ranking protection to safeguard his entry into future BWF-sanctioned tournaments upon his return.
Meanwhile, NSI Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Faedzal Md Ramli has downplayed suggestions that the NSI failed to provide the best services for Tze Yong.
In fact, Ahmad insisted that they have been treating Tze Yong's case as a "priority" and spared no effort in aiding the talented player to get back on his feet.
"Careful observation is being carried out because we want to ensure a long career for him. So we need to be cautious when treating him," Ahmad told the media today.
"It's not just about medical issues but also other aspects such as sports science and nutrition. All of these need to be considered.
"That's why we need to be careful in allowing or releasing him to play in any tournament. He is always our priority and indeed frequently undergoes treatment at NSI."