# Malaysia’s No 1 woman shuttler declared fit to compete in Rio Olympics
# Jing Yi pulls out from Taiwan Open to concentrate on Olympics preparations
Malaysia’s number one woman shuttler Tee Jing Yi has pulled out of the USD200,000 Yonex Taiwan Open Grand Prix Gold after being given a clean bill of health to compete in the Rio Olympics in August.
Having earned her ticket to Rio de Janeiro on merit Jing Yi’s participation in her second Olympics was in doubt following an ankle injury in a local tournament in May when she forced to concede a walkover to Goh Jin Wei in the final.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) were in two minds on Jing Yi’s participation in Rio because of the injury but the World No 28 took all in her stride – waiting for the final say from the NSI.
Now that she is cleared and given a clean bill of health Jing Yi is determined to do better than what she achieved in London in 2012 when she made her Olympics debut. However, her Olympic run in London ended in the group stage.
“Now I can fully concentrate on my preparations for Rio. I am fully focused in my training…I am not bothered by any injuries,” said Jing Yi.
BAM deputy president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria confirmed Jing Yi’s participation in Rio after the NSI report on the player gave her the greenlight. Norza was speaking after BAM’s coaching and training committee meeting.
Malaysia will have seven shuttlers in Rio Olympics with World No 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei the best hope of winning the elusive gold medal in the men’s singles. Apart from Jing Yi the others eyeing for medals in Rio are men’s doubles Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei (women’s doubles) and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying in the mixed doubles.
Earlier Chong Wei had also pulled out from the Taiwan Open – which is the last tournament before the Rio Olympics. He also withdrew from the Australian Open Superseries after winning his sixth Indonesian Open Superseries Premier title.
Meanwhile, national champion Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin is leading Malaysia’s charge in Taipei in the men’s singles. Others are Thomas Cuppers Goh Soon Huat and Chong Wei Feng, Liew Daren, Tan Chun Seang, Goh Giap Chin and Arif Abdul Latif.
In the men’s doubles Malaysia have V Shem-Wee Kiong and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and Vivian-Khe Wei and Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean. Peng Soon-Liu Ying and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing carry Malaysia’s hopes in the mixed doubles.
Ho Yen Mei is Malaysia’s sole representative in the women’s singles.
