Kuala lumpur: Outgoing national men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong will begin his professional career by training with independent player Soong Joo Ven as he focuses on recovering from a string of injuries. Tze Yong said the move would allow him to focus fully on his recovery, as he is currently training at only 40 to 50 per cent intensity.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tze Yong mentioned that training with Joo Ven will provide him the necessary environment to aid his recovery process. "For training, I'll go to Joo Ven's place. So far, I've been able to train there, and I consider Joo Ven my coach," he told reporters after a training session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara.

The 26-year-old emphasized the importance of respecting his physical limitations and taking a realistic approach to his rehabilitation. He stated, "If I had the choice, of course I would want to come back as fast as possible. But I need to respect my body as well."

Tze Yong is optimistic despite the financial challenges of recovery, noting that the rehabilitation is proceeding as planned. He described leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) as the best decision for his career at this point, after amicable discussions with the national body.

Though moving on, Tze Yong acknowledged BAM's significant role in his development since his teenage years. He also mentioned that his current condition precludes him from training with top independent player Lee Zii Jia.

Recently, BAM announced that Tze Yong and the association had mutually agreed to part ways as of June 30. Tze Yong, who reached a career-high world ranking of No. 14 in November 2023, has achieved notable success, including a men's singles silver and mixed team gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, among other accolades.

However, his career has been marred by injuries, including back and ACL injuries requiring surgery and extended recovery periods.