PETALING JAYA: With the badminton competition at the Thailand SEA Games set to begin on Sunday, the national camp had a brief scare when women’s singles shuttler Wong Ling Ching (pic) came down with fever and flu less than five days before action starts.
It is understood that several national players had earlier shown similar symptoms, and Ling Ching believes she may have caught the illness from teammate Eng Ler Qi during training.
The timing is far from ideal for the Sarawak-born player, who still remembers how the same problem derailed her SEA Games debut in Cambodia in 2023 when she missed out on the team event.
“I have had fever and flu since last week. I am still training but the coaches have adjusted the sessions for me,” said Ling Ching.
“I was also unwell at the previous SEA Games, so I really hope I can recover in time for the team event.
“Everything depends on the coaches. Sometimes if a player is sick or injured, they might make changes.”
The disappointment in Cambodia still lingers for the 21-year-old, as she was not fully fit even when the individual event began. She went out in the opening round to Thailand’s Lalinrat Chaiwan.
The pain was even greater as the women’s team’s failure at the Cambodia SEA Games was seen as an embarrassment, especially after their 3-0 defeat to the Philippines in the quarter-finals.
“I did not have enough time to recover. When I played in the individual event, I was still dizzy. This time I hope I can be ready in time.
“My coach did not expect me to lose, but after the match I could only lie in bed. I had no emotions or reaction after that defeat,” she added.
The national squad will leave for Bangkok on Friday. The team event draw will take place on Saturday before the competition starts on Sunday at Thammasat University in Pathum Thani.
