KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia face the urgent matter of addressing their injury woes ahead of the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) on Feb 13-18.
After men's shuttler Ng Tze Yong suffered a lower back injury at the Petronas Malaysia Open early last month and Justin Hoh a knee injury, it is now the turn of men's doubles player Haikal Nazri.
Yesterday, the emergent pair of Choong Hon Jian-Haikal had to retire in the first round of the Thailand Masters after Haikal suffered an ankle injury.
Hon Jian-Haikal were trailing South Koreans Kim Won Ho-Na Sung Seung 16-7 when they threw in the towel.
It is understood that Haikal picked up the injury during training.
BAM Coaching Director Rexy Mainaky said it is premature to speculate on the extent of the injury.
"Based on my conversation with coach Tan Bin Shen, it is learned that Haikal twisted his ankle during training in Bangkok.
"Hon Jian-Haikal flew back (today). We will monitor the situation and assess Haikal's injury," Rexy said.
The draw for the BATC, which is also the Asian qualifiers for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in April, took place on yesterday at the Setia City Convention Centre.
The Malaysian men's team, winners of the BATC title in 2022, are placed in Group B alongside Taiwan, Kazakhstan, and Brunei. Only the top two teams will advance to the quarter-finals, with a fresh draw to be conducted for the knockout stages.
Despite the long injury list, the Malaysian men's team will be represented by former All England champion Lee Zii Jia, Tze Yong, Leong Jun Hao, Eogene Ewe, former world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, and Hon Jian-Haikal.
