PETALING JAYA, May 15 — The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has sent Goh Liu Ying, the country’s number one mixed doubles player to undergo treatment at a sports science institute in Germany, with the assistance of the National Sports Institute.
BAM president Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria said the 27-year-old shuttler left the country on Saturday to start consultation with sports injury specialists at Sportklinik Halle in Germany until June 9.
“As the president, I want her to be treated immediately, so she can come back and wear the national jersey soon. At the moment let’s hope she will be fully treated and continue to play for the country, since she is among our hope for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“When I spoke to Liu Ying after becoming the BAM president, she wanted to be treated by specialist in sports injury. The first few days will be consultation to know what her injury is and how fast she can recover.
“We want to hear what will be the diagnosis of the injury before deciding what kind of treatment she needs,” he told reporters after witnessing the signing ceremony between world number men’s singles player Datuk Lee Chong Wei and 100Plus, as the brand ambassador, for the company that manufactures isotonic drinks.
Liu Ying, the Melaka-born 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist who underwent surgery on both her knees in 2015, faced another injury during the India Open in March, which caused her and partner Chan Peng Soon to concede a walkover in the first round of the 2017 Malaysia Open in Kuching, Sarawak.
The shoulder and knee injury had also forced her to miss the 2017 Sudirman Cup in Gold Coast, Australia from May 21-28, while a return before the World Championship at Glasgow, Scotland, in August is still doubtful.
Meanwhile, Norza also confirmed that BAM would advertise for two vacancies in the national badminton governing body, namely for the head of newly completed Academy Badminton Malaysia and general manager to replace Lawrence Chew, who resigned on May 5.
“We will advertise for the vacancies by this week. When I assumed the president’s post on April 29, I stated by Jan 2018, I want the academy to be fully operational, so the head is very important to oversee the operations and management of the academy,” he said. — Bernama
