SOONG HOPES TO BE ON SONG IN UBER CUP FINALS

KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles shuttler Soong Fie Cho feels she’s back on song following her return from a career-threatening injury suffered two years ago.

The 29-year-old’s unwavering focus and iron will has landed her a place in the squad for Uber Cup Finals in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 20-27.

“I was considering retirement after my injury in 2016 and now, I’ll be going to the Uber Cup. It’s unbelievable. I’m glad I hung on,” said Fie Cho.

Fie Cho was in smashing form with Amelia Anscelly in 2015 when they won the 2015 Indian Open Grand Prix Gold. They also surprised everyone by winning the 2015 Singapore SEA Games gold medal.

Then, everything fell apart, when Fie Cho tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) on her left knee in January 2016.

She went through a 15-month rehabilitation programme but the process was difficult.

“It was hard. I didn’t know where I was heading to. But I didn’t give up because I had dreams and I didn’t want to give up until I accomplish them,” said Fie Cho.

She was then teamed up with singles-turn-doubles player Tee Jing Yi in May last year and they hit it off immediately and went on to win the Victor International Series and the Malaysia International Series.

“It’s a personal accomplishment to be selected for the Uber Cup – after going through so much of hardship. Jing Yi and I will justify the faith if we are given a chance to play,” she added.

The other doubles players in the squad are Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean and scratch pair Vivian Hoo-Goh Yea Ching. The singles players are Soniia Cheah, Goh Jin Wei, Lee Ying Ying and S. Kisona.

Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have set a top-eight target for Uber Cup team and that means, they have to finish as the top two teams in Group D comprising defending champions China, Indonesia and France.