National No. 2 Iskandar a no-go for All-England after aggravating back injury

Luckless: Iskandar Zulkarnain is hoping to return to competition at the Malaysian Open from April 4-9.

PETALING JAYA: Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin has been dealt a third major blow of the season.

Yesterday, the national No. 2 men’s singles shuttler was forced to pull out of the All-England in Birmingham from March 7-12.

Last week, the 25-year-old withdrew from this week’s Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

To date, the world No. 31 has withdrawn from three tournaments after injuring his back in December.

He also skipped last month’s Malaysian Masters in Sibu.

“I was cleared to return to training at the start of this month but the injury got worse.

“The doctors have ordered me to undergo another six weeks of rehabilitation.

“It’s so disappointing because I really wanted to compete in my first All-England. But I think it’s better to make a full recovery and return to action at the Malaysian Open (April 4-9),” said Iskandar.

With world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei also nursing a knee injury, independent shuttler Zulfadli Zulkiffli is Malaysia’s only representative in the men’s singles at the All-England.

The world No. 33 is a big beneficiary of Chong Wei and Iskandar’s withdrawal. Instead of playing in the qualifying tournament, 2013 world junior champion Zulfadli has been given a berth in the main draw.

The other Malaysians competing are Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (men’s doubles), Goh Jin Wei (women’s singles), Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei (women’s doubles) and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (mixed doubles).