KUCHING: Sarawak shuttler Athan Yang Zhi Yung will represent the state at the MSSM National Badminton Championship in Perak from Sept 12 to 18 despite suffering a recent leg injury.
The Chung Hua Middle School No 4 student earned his spot after winning both the boys’ singles and doubles titles at the state-level MSS Badminton Championship.
His preparations, however, were interrupted during the SBA Junior Badminton Tournament when the injury forced him to concede a singles match he was leading against the eventual champion.
“Of course there’s a little bit of regret because I could’ve finished the game. I was leading and then the injury occurred,”
“But it does motivate me to play better in the upcoming games,” Athan told Sarawak Tribune when contacted today (Sept 9).
The youngster is optimistic about recovering in time, crediting both his academy’s physiotherapist and his coaches for their support.
“The leg injury is new, but I hope I can recover before MSSM. With the help of our JPro physio I believe I’ll be ready by next week.
“I would also like to thank Coach Ichwansyah for guiding me during the Borneo Games centralized training—it helped me a lot,” he added.
JPro physiotherapist and trainer Rajeev Bijoy said Athan’s determination will be crucial at the national level.
“For me, he played really well during the tournament. It’s just a small setback due to the injury. That’s never an excuse—we need to strengthen his mental side,” Rajeev said.
He added that the teenager’s mindset will be key as the level of competition intensifies.
“Age is catching up, players are definitely going to be tougher challenges for him. He just needs that ‘no matter what, I’ll win’ mindset.”
