PETALING JAYA: It was relief for the team bound for the Asia Team Championships after men’s doubles shuttler Yap Roy King recovered from an ankle injury in time for the competition starting on Tuesday in Qingdao, China.
Roy King picked up the injury in the Indian Open in New Delhi a fortnight ago but has managed to make a speedy recovery ahead of the event which acts as the qualifier for the Thomas Cup Finals from April 24-May 3 in Horsens, Denmark.
“I will say Roy King’s recovery is at about 90%. He underwent rehabilitation and has been training for two days.
“He will be able to compete in the Asia team meet,” said men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi.
Roy King is set to play an important role as the top doubles pair for the team along with Wan Arif Wan Junaidi.
The duo will be keen to prove themselves in the absence of their seniors, world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, world No. 6 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (No. 8).
The other pairs who will join Roy King-Arif in Qingdao are world No. 33 Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian and world No. 35 Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing.
The singles players selected are world No. 38 Justin Hoh, Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (45), Eogene Ewe (86) and newly crowned Under-21 national champion Kong Wei Xiang (344).
Malaysia have been placed in Group D along with Indonesia and Myanmar.
The top two teams in the group will progress to the last eight.
Malaysia captured the title in the 2022 edition and finished runners-up in 2020 and 2024 to Indonesia and China respectively.
