Good old times: Women’s singles shuttler Wong Ling Ching in action against Taiwan’s Sung Shuo-yun during the group match of Uber Cup Finals at Hi-Tech Sports Centre in Chengdu, China. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The national women's singles badminton team have been further depleted following the resignation of Malaysia Games (Sukma) champion Wong Ling Ching.
It's learnt that Ling Ching, who reached the semi-finals of the Indonesian International Challenge last month, has left the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) early this month to further her studies.
The 21-year-old player from Miri has not been seen in training since losing in the second round of the Indonesian Masters in the first week of November.
Ling Ching left her hometown at the age of 15 and joined Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) before eventually making it to the national team at the end of 2022 when she was 19.
With the country's third ranked player Ling Ching out, those left in the team are K. Letshanaa, Siti Zulaikha Azmi and Oo Shan Zi, who are training under coaches Jeffer Rosobin and Misbun Ramdan.
Newly appointed singles head coach Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark will have his hands full when he starts his job next year as one of his main tasks is to add depth in the women's singles department.
Malaysia used to boast top women players like Woon Sze Mei, Ng Mee Fen, the Wong sisters - Mew Choo and Miew Kheng, Cheah sisters - Soniia and Lydia, Tee Jing Yi, Ho Yen Mei to mention a few.
Former world junior champion and independent player Goh Jin Wei is still around but struggling to find consistency.
