Toh Ee Wei admits that spending months away from Malaysia has not been easy, but the national mixed doubles player remains fully committed to her rehabilitation programme in Australia as she targets a return to the court.
The 25-year-old is currently based in Melbourne, where she has been undergoing rehabilitation following surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury suffered earlier this year. While the physical recovery has progressed well, Ee Wei acknowledged that being far from family and friends has been one of the biggest challenges.
Despite feeling homesick at times, she believes remaining in Australia gives her the best chance of making a strong recovery.
Ee Wei said the support she has received from her medical team and those around her has helped her stay positive throughout the rehabilitation process. She remains focused on regaining her fitness step by step rather than rushing back into competition.
The injury forced Ee Wei to put her career on hold just as she was building momentum on the international circuit. Before the setback, she and mixed doubles partner Chen Tang Jie had established themselves among the world's leading pairs with a string of strong performances.
Although watching tournaments from the sidelines has been frustrating, Ee Wei said the experience has also strengthened her determination to return stronger.
Her immediate priority is completing every stage of her rehabilitation programme before thinking about competitive action.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia has continued to monitor her progress closely, with the focus firmly on ensuring she is fully fit before returning to international tournaments.
While no firm comeback date has been set, Ee Wei remains optimistic that the sacrifices she is making now, including living away from home for an extended period, will pay off in the long run.
With Malaysian badminton entering a busy period that includes the BWF World Championships next month, Ee Wei can only watch from afar. However, her attention remains fixed on one goal: making a full recovery and returning to the court ready to compete at her highest level.
