Malaysia’s hopes of defending the mixed doubles title at the World Championships have been dealt a major blow after Toh Ee Wei revealed that a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has left her facing an uphill battle to return in time for the season’s biggest event.
The reigning world champion sustained the injury to her left knee during the Singapore Open two weeks ago and is still awaiting a final medical recommendation following an MRI scan. With the World Championships scheduled for August 17-23 in New Delhi, Ee Wei admitted that participating in the tournament would require an extraordinary recovery.
The 24-year-old, who captured the world title alongside Chen Tang Jie in Paris last year, acknowledged that the timeline for a comeback is extremely tight. A decision on whether surgery is required will play a significant role in determining her recovery plans.
Source: Badminton Planet
For now, Ee Wei's focus is firmly on rehabilitation. Despite being able to walk normally, she stressed that recovery from an ACL injury involves intensive work rather than rest. Under the guidance of coaches and physiotherapists, she is continuing her rehabilitation programme to maintain strength and give herself the best chance of returning to competition as soon as possible.
While her own future remains uncertain, Ee Wei has encouraged Tang Jie to continue competing instead of waiting for her recovery. She has given her support for him to partner junior player Clarissa San in upcoming tournaments, including the Japan Open and China Open.
Ee Wei said she wants Tang Jie to keep building momentum and achieving strong results on the international circuit, rather than putting his season on hold while she works towards recovery.
The injury has sparked concern within the Malaysian badminton community, but Ee Wei has received strong backing from the country's sporting authorities. Badminton Association of Malaysia president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and performance committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei are among those closely monitoring her situation.
The National Sports Institute and the Road to Gold programme are also evaluating treatment options to ensure she receives the best possible care, including consultations with overseas specialists if necessary.
Although there is no clear timeline for her return, Ee Wei remains determined to complete her rehabilitation and work her way back onto the court, with hopes of once again competing at the highest level of world badminton.
