At one stage she was not even sure of playing in the USD500,000 Maybank Malaysian Open Super Series Premier because of a nagging leg injury she aggravated while playing in the Axiata Cup in early December last year.
Malaysia’s top women’s singles shuttler Tee Jing Yi tried to make a comeback during the Yonex Sunrise Malaysia Masters in Kuching in January but it came to an abrupt end when she aggravated her injury while playing Japan’s Sayaka Sato in the first round and was forced to pullout.
After nearly three months of rehabilitation Jing Yi has recovered – ready to keep Malaysia’s flag flying in the Malaysian Open although she will have to go through the qualifying rounds to make the main draw.
Looking sharp and slimmer, Jing Yi went through the paces during a training session in Bukit Jalil on Saturday as she prepares herself to launch her “comeback” after laying off from competitive badminton.
“Nope. Don’t put too much of hope on me. It has been tough on me. I am coming through fine but it will be my first competition in three months. I have top be careful….but deep inside me I want to make the main draw,” said the Penangite who is known for her tremendous fighting spirit.
She was supposed to make a comeback at the Swiss Open in March but the doctor was quick to put a stop to that. It was painful for Jing Yi but she made the sacrifice knowing that the Malaysian Open was more important for her badminton career.
Ranked No 66 in the world, Jing Yi, takes her first step with a first round match against Indonesia’s Yulia Yosephine Susanto in the qualifying round. Should she get past the Indonesian, Jing Yi will face the winner of the Hung Shih Han (Taiwan)-Simone Prutsch (Austria) tie.
“I will be more than happy to make the main draw…this is my first priority. Let’s see how it goes. I am in better shape and much fitter to make my comeback. Right now I am focused on the qualifying round,” added Jing Yi.
