KUALA LUMPUR – National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has refused to confirm or deny Scoop's report that Ng Tze Yong has been advised to undergo anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, following the shuttler’s latest injury scare at the Malaysia Masters two weeks ago.
“As I mentioned, I cannot comment on this until I have all the facts and then we will outline a plan moving forward and how we're going to deal with the injury and so on,” said Jonassen today when asked directly if the surgery report was true.
“Obviously we've pulled him out of last week and this week – the Singapore and Indonesia Opens. So yeah, that's the only thing I can comment about at the moment. I'm sorry about that.”
Scoop had reported during the Malaysia Masters that Tze Yong may be facing a lengthy layoff – just four tournaments into his comeback from a year-long back injury – after collapsing with a right knee injury in his opening match against Angus Ng Ka Long at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
A highly placed source later confirmed that doctors had advised the 25-year-old to undergo ACL surgery, which could sideline him for the rest of 2025 and potentially beyond.
While Jonassen acknowledged having some details, he said he was not in a position to share them yet.
“Obviously I have some details, but I can't share them at the moment, not until we've gathered all the facts. We are trying to put together a specific plan and how to move forward," Jonassen added.
Should surgery be required, it would be another major setback for Tze Yong, who only returned to competition in April after a long spell recovering from two lower back surgeries, after sustaining the injury in the first round of the 2024 Malaysia Open.
It also jeopardises his protected ranking, which he currently holds until October. Under Badminton World Federation (BWF) rules, players can only apply for protected status once every two years – meaning Tze Yong would not be eligible again until 2027.
Without that protection, he would be unable to enter top-tier events unless he regains ranking points – an uphill task if sidelined long-term.
Jonassen admitted the situation has affected BAM’s long-term plans, especially with the 2026 Thomas Cup less than a year away.
“The Thomas Cup is really close. As I've always said, it is always on my mind – we’ve got to develop the players and have the strongest lineup possible,” he said.
“Now the injury to Tze Yong obviously affects that a little bit, but overall I'm working towards a goal to produce a lineup that can challenge the best. Of course, just by pure world rankings we won't reach the top nations – unless we do something spectacular over the next eight to 10 months.”
For now, BAM is keeping its cards close to its chest – but the longer the uncertainty drags on, the more precarious Tze Yong’s future appears. – June 3, 2025
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