PETALING JAYA: National women’s doubles shuttler Teoh Mei Xing is deeply troubled about her partner Anna Cheong’s condition.
Anna made a courageous comeback at the World Championships in August following an 11-month layoff to recover from an interior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture on her right knee.
However, just three months later, the duo had to withdraw from the Japan Masters as the former sustained another injury on the same leg.
“I am worried about her condition,” said Mei Xing, who will be turning 27 in March.
“Her leg has an on-and-off condition, where there might be sudden swelling or the ligaments might feel very tight.
“It is hard for us to predict her situation, so she needs to understand and familiarise herself with her leg’s condition.
“I am also afraid that something might happen and cause discomfort or pain on her leg, so I don’t want to pressure her.”
Earlier this month, the world No. 53 Anna-Mei Xing competed in the Malaysian Open where they went down 14-21, 13-21 to South Korea’s world No. 6 Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee in the first round.They did not compete in the Indian Open (Jan 16-21) and has pulled out from the ongoing Indonesian Masters and upcoming Thailand Masters starting on Tuesday.
“It is better to wait until we are both in optimal condition before competing, instead of continuously participating but losing,” said Mei Xing.
Due to Anna’s condition, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have named Tan Zhing Yi and Go Pei Kee for the upcoming Asia Team Championships, where either one of them will partner Mei Xing or come up with a scratch partnership altogether.
BAM national director of coaching Rexy Mainaky wants Anna to take it easy.
“Anna consulted the doctor this morning. If she strains her knee, it becomes swollen, and doctors have advised not to push her to play in tournaments for now.”
The others members of the women’s team are independent shuttler Goh Jin Wei, K. Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching, Siti Nurshuhaini Azman, Pearly Tan, M. Thinaah, Go Pei Kee and Low Yeen Yuan.
