PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttler Toh Ee Wei has flown to Melbourne, Australia, to seek specialist consultation for the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in her left knee.
In a social media post, Ee Wei documented her trip to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) yesterday, but this time she was not travelling abroad to compete.
Instead, the journey marked the beginning of her recovery process.
Having overcome major setbacks before, Ee Wei knows what lies ahead as she prepares for another lengthy rehabilitation process before returning to the court.
"This time, leaving home is not for a competition. It is a mission, and also a responsibility,'' she said.
"I want to do everything I can to recover and bring myself back to the court, one step at a time. Many people think sport is only about winning and losing.
"But for us athletes, sport has never only taught us about victory and defeat. More often, it teaches us how to face setbacks, accept failure and get back up after falling.
"As an athlete, you begin to face questions you never imagined before — recurring injuries, fluctuations in form, stagnation in training, and even days when you are unable to compete.
"The rhythm you were once accustomed to is disrupted. Physical limitations and mental struggles emerge at the same time, forcing you to relearn how to live with yourself.
"But it is precisely in these moments that we truly understand what perseverance means.
"It is not about persevering when you are constantly winning, but about choosing to keep moving forward even when you cannot see the results and may even doubt yourself," said Ee Wei in her social media post.
The ACL tear is the latest setback for Ee Wei, who previously battled acute sinusitis in 2018 and bone tuberculosis in 2020.
The Melaka-born shuttler sustained the injury during the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open last month.
The injury is expected to sideline her for several months, putting her hopes of defending the mixed doubles world title with Chen Tang Jie in New Delhi from Aug 17-23 in serious doubt.
