PETALING JAYA: Singles shuttler Wong Ling Ching has assured that she will be fit for the SEA Games in Cambodia next month after recovering from injury.
The national badminton team bound for the biennial Games had already suffered a blow after losing promising men’s singles player Justin Hoh to a torn achilles tendon.
Ling Ching had a scare after injuring her right adductor two weeks ago.
The 20-year-old though has managed to shrug off the injury in time for the Games.
“I injured my right adductor about two weeks ago. Thankfully, it wasn’t serious and I’m fully recovered now,” said Ling Ching. Ling Ching, who is set to make her debut, is now looking to make the most of her fortune by going all the way to the final in the individual event.
“This will be my first SEA Games and I’m aiming to reach the final in the individual event,” said Ling Ching.
“It will be great if I can win gold but I will be satisfied if I get the silver at least.”
Ling Ching, who only joined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) last October, was originally supposed to only compete in the team event.
But the coaches have decided to include her in the individual event too after not sending her for the Sudirman Cup from May 14-21 in Suzhou.
The prestigious mixed team meet clashes with the individual event in the Games which are scheduled to take place from May 12-16. The team event in Cambodia is from May 8-11.
Ling Ching had impressed in the Asian Mixed Team Championships in February, which served as the qualifier for the Sudirman Cup.
The youngster had given a good account of herself before losing 13-21, 17-21 to India’s 2019 world champion P. V. Sindhu in a group tie.
On whether she was disappointed to miss the Sudirman Cup, Ling Ching said: “No, I’m happy with the decision made by my coaches. I have faith in their decision and I’m fully focused on the SEA Games now.”
The other women’s singles players selected for the Games are Siti Nurshuhaini Azman, Tan Zhing Yi and Ong Xin Yee.
