KUALA LUMPUR: When Ng Tze Yong sat down to think about his future, he realised he still loved badminton enough to try to get back on court.
The former world No. 14, who has had two back operations and surgery on his right knee, admitted there was a time when he thought he would give up the sport.
“At first I also thought I will be giving up on this sport,” said Tze Yong during a question-and-answer session in a video posted by Smashminton Brisbane.
Asked what kept him going, the 26-year-old said: “I just feel like I still love this sport.”
The 2022 Commonwealth Games men’s singles silver medallist played an exhibition in Brisbane, Australia, on Saturday at an event hosted by Smashminton Brisbane and Klutch Badminton Academy in Acacia Ridge.
Tze Yong had entered the South Australia International in Adelaide from Nov 11-5 and the Melbourne International from Nov 18-22, but his name was removed from both entry lists on Oct 1.
His troubles began at the Malaysia Open in January 2024, where he injured his back less than two months after climbing to a career-high world No. 14.
Another back injury followed at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in February, and Tze Yong went on to have two operations as his hopes of qualifying for the Paris Olympics slipped away.
He returned at the Badminton Asia Championships in April last year and played in Taiwan and Thailand before heading home for the Malaysia Masters in May.
In his opening match in Bukit Jalil, Tze Yong took the first game 22-20 against Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long and led 4-3 in the second when a right knee injury forced him to retire.
Scans revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and he underwent surgery in Doha in July last year.
Tze Yong left the BA of Malaysia on June 30 this year to continue his career as an independent player.
His next chance to compete could come at the Algeria International in El Biar from Dec 2-5, where he is listed 25th in men’s singles qualifying ahead of the Nov 23 withdrawal deadline.