KUALA LUMPUR: Former singles legend Datuk Rashid Sidek hopes men singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong will make a strong comeback from his latest injury setback although it looks tough on paper.

Tze Yong has to go for another round of surgery to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained at the Malaysian Masters last month and that means he will be out of the competition scene for a few months.

Rashid sympathies with Tze Yong, who is currently lying at 199th spot in the world rankings.

“Tze Yong is a very determined player and I hope he will come out of this difficult situation stronger,” said Rashid.

“It will be hard for sure. Careers of former players like women singles players Julia Wong and Norshaliza Baharom were cut short because of recurring injuries. Even mixed doubles shuttler Goh Liu Ying struggled during her heydays.

“It will never be the same after a surgery. The players will have to deal with fear of aggravating the injury when they push themselves during training after making a comeback.

“The leg will be swollen when they go the extra mile in training. It’s also hard for coaches to decide how much is enough when an injured player returns for training.

“I’m sorry that Tze Yong has to go through this but knowing him, I’m sure, he will go through this bravely and stay positive.

With Tze Yong is out in the cold again, Malaysia’s hopefuls are Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh and professional Lee Zii Jia.

“It’s a tough season for Malaysia’s singles department but I hope coach Kenneth (Jonassen) will be able to manage it,” he said.

Tze Yong, who was forced to retire from a match against Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long due to pain in his knee at the home meet, is choosing to be optimistic.

“It’s tough to accept, especially after all the hard work leading up to this point, but I know this is just another challenge to overcome,” said the 25-year-old Tze Yong, who just recently returned to competition after taking slightly over a year to recover from his previous injury.

He underwent surgery for his back twice last year after injuring it during the Malaysian Open in January.

“I’m staying positive, and I’m fully focused on coming back stronger.”

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) confirmed that Tze Yong had to undergo knee surgery after scans revealed a torn ACL, requiring surgical intervention following a thorough medical examination.

“This is a difficult moment for Tze Yong, but he is mentally strong and focused on the recovery process,” said Kenneth Jonassen, BAM’s director of singles.

“Our medical and coaching teams are working closely with him to ensure he gets the best care possible. We will support him every step of the way, both on and off court.”