Former national coaching director Wong Choong Hann has attributed the inconsistent performances of Malaysia’s men’s singles shuttlers to injuries, rather than a lack of talent.
The ex-national champion said key players’ injuries have disrupted training and affected results on the international stage.
“For me, the players’ performances have been slightly affected because of injuries,” Choong Hann said after a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony between the National Sports Council and the Hong Kong Sports Institute in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday. “This has caused tournament preparations to be unstable.”
Choong Hann, who is now Hong Kong’s head coach, stressed that Malaysia still possesses quality in the men’s singles line-up. “We cannot say Malaysia lack quality in men’s singles. We still have players like Lee Zii Jia, Ng Tze Yong, and Leong Jun Hao, but injuries have disrupted them,” he said.
While former All England champion Zii Jia has returned to the World Tour after recovering from ankle and back injuries, Tze Yong has only recently resumed light training following ACL surgery last year. Jun Hao, meanwhile, has been affected by multiple minor injuries throughout his career.
Choong Hann believes a fully fit squad could deliver stronger performances and restore fans’ confidence. With major tournaments such as the Asian Games looming, he stressed that recovery and proper preparation must be prioritised.
“The main focus now is the recovery process and ensuring they are truly ready for major tournaments like the Asian Games,” he said.
On the topic of developing new talent, Choong Hann called for patience, emphasising that grooming young players requires time, exposure, and structured planning.
“It is more about medium and long-term planning. Young players need time to grow, gain exposure, and strengthen their fundamentals,” he added.
