New experience: Ng Tze Yong is competing in his first Commonwealth Games as an underdog. — Bernama
COACH Hendrawan was seated at the back of Lee Chong Wei when the latter won the men’s singles gold at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games four years ago.
Now, he is the man behind Ng Tze Yong in Birmingham.
Hendrawan, however, knows the scenario is totally different as Tze Yong is competing in his first Commonwealth Games as an underdog, not as a favourite like Chong Wei was in 2018.
So, Hendrawan is just happy with the 22-year-old Tze Yong’s presence in the Games.
“In fact, this is Tze Yong’s first experience in a multi-sports event. He has not even played in the SEA Games,” said Hendrawan.
Tze Yong did not play at the Vietnam SEA Games in May as it had clashed with the Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok.
“Even here, he only got the opportunity to participate after Lee Zii Jia’s withdrawal. So far, things are fine with Tze Yong ,” said Hendrawan, who is attending only his second Commonwealth Games.
“Hopefully, Tze Yong can produce his best game in the upcoming matches and anything can happen,” he said.
On Friday, both Hendrawan and Tze Yong took the spotlight after a heart-warming incident that took place during the mixed team tie between Malaysia and Jamaica in Group 4 at the National Exhibition Centre on Friday.
Hendrawan and Tze Yong had both came to Samuel Ricketts’ aid after the Jamaican struggled without proper footwear in the second game of the men’s singles event when the sole of his shoe gave way.Ricketts’ coach passed him a pair of shoes given by his teammate but it did not fit him properly.
Tze Yong, who was trailing 4-5 then, asked him what was his shoe size and related the news to Hendrawan.
And the big-hearted man took off his own shoes and handed it over to the Jamaican.
It fitted him perfectly but it was not good enough to beat Tze Yong, as he went down 12-21, 16-21.
“I gave him mine and told him to keep the shoes as a gift,” said Hendrawan.
“We knew something was wrong with his shoes and I asked Tze Yong to get Ricketts’ shoe size. Mine was size 28 and Ricketts’ was almost the same,” explained Hendrawan.
The Indonesian did not stop there but inspired the Jamaican with some encouraging words.
“I motivated him to play well and keep training hard and encouraged him to represent his country in the Olympics,” added Hendrawan, who had won honours in every major event during his playing time.
Overall, Malaysian had little trouble against the minnows and won 5-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Besides the point delivered by Tze Yong, Goh Jin Wei disposed off Talia Richardson 21-2, 21-5 in the women’s singles and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik followed suit by beating Ricketts-Joel Angus 21-7, 21-11.
Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah and Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See also won their matches beating Richardson-Katherine Wynter 21-8, 21-2 and Angus-Wynter 21-5, 21-12 respectively.
