Out in the cold: Justin Hoh’s injury will keep him out of action for at least four months.
PETALING JAYA: It’s never easy to stay positive when recovering from a serious injury.
National men’s singles shuttler Justin Hoh is going through this situation now after undergoing surgery to repair a rupture in his left Achilles tendon nearly a fortnight ago.
The injury suffered during training was a cruel blow to Justin, who had been progressing well since his promotion to the senior ranks last November.
The 19-year-old had risen to a career-high No. 53 in the latest world rankings and was poised to play in the SEA Games in Cambodia next month before his dream was shattered.
Justin now faces a long spell on the sidelines but singles coaching director Wong Choong Hann has urged him to keep his spirits up.
“It’s important for Justin to stay positive and focus on his recovery,” said Choong Hann.
“He had time to digest this unfortunate incident and he’s in good spirits now.
“He has turned his attention to his rehab process. He has four sessions in the gym every week.
“We are going easy on him for now as his wound is not fully healed yet.”
Choong Hann believes that Justin will need at least four months before he is able to return to training on court.
“We have our fair share of experience with these injury issues and we are able to give him the right advice.
“I think it will take about four months for him to return to light training on court.
“From there, it’s important for him to be sensitive to how his body responds as this will determine his recovery phase.”
“For now, Justin needs to maintain as much muscle mass as possible.
“He also needs to maintain his cardiovascular fitness through various exercises.
“These are important for him to prevent other injuries.
“The next phase is for him to touch up a bit on his skills.”
Choong Hann acknowledged that it will take time for Justin to regain top form again once he returns to competitions but is positive that he can return to full fitness.
“Of course it will take some time for him to overcome the fear of injury,” said Choong Hann.
“Once he feels strong, he will become more confident.
“Then, he needs to regain the tournament feeling where he has to get used to the intensity of matches again.
“We are not too worried and believe that in the modern era, Achilles tendon rupture is not extremely serious.”
