Kuala Lumpur: After suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) on her left knee in the first round of Thailand Masters in Bangkok last Tuesday, the 2015 Singapore SEA Games women’s doubles gold medalist Soong Fie Cho’s campaign to reach the 2016 Olympics could be in jeopardy.
Soong and her partner Amelia Alicia Anscelly were originally set to play the second women’s doubles for the Malaysia women’s team at Asia Team Championships in Hyderabad before her Thailand Masters setback last week. She was forced to pull out from the team after the injury.
“Doctor has confirmed that my ACL and MCL are torn, and I probably need a surgery on Wednesday,” said Soong.
“I don’t even really know how long I will be out,” added Soong.
Speaking about Soong Fie Cho’s injury before his departure to Hyderabad on Thursday, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost indicated there was no immediate need to call up a replacement for Soong.
As World No. 14 Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo, and World No. 29 Soong Fie Cho and Amelia Alicia Anscelly are the only two pairs that ranked in World’s top 30, Soong’s injury will undoubtedly affect Malaysia’s chances to advance to the knockout stage, as Malaysia was grouped together with defending champion China and Hong Kong.
According to Badminton World Federation (BWF), only top four teams at the Asia Team Championships will qualify for the Thomas/Uber Cup Finals in Kunshan, China, in May.
Prior to Soong, Malaysia’s No. 1 women’s singles shuttler Tee Jing Yi also withdrew from the Asia meet due to a hamstring injury.
