Missing ligament grounds Wee Wern
LOW Wee Wern could take longer to return to squash than she did the first time she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after suffering a recurrence of the injury.
Medical scans on Thursday showed the ligament had “disappeared” which now requires her to go under the knife for a second time in as many years to reconstruct the ACL.
Wee Wern’s coach Aaron Soyza is hopeful the World University Championship winner could return by the middle of next year but did not rule out a longer recovery period.
World No 27 Wee Wern first tore the ligament in her left knee in March last year, when she was ranked a career high World No 5, before returning to action eight months later.
“At the moment, it would seem like she will need surgery and given the fact it has happened again, we hope for the best and a speedy recovery,” said Aaron.
“The best-case scenario would be six months, as we have seen with the case of some footballers.”
Asked if Wee Wern should take greater precaution by taking her time to return, Aaron said: “We will need to speak with the experts first.
“We don’t know yet how the ligament disappeared. The graft which bundled the ligament with the hamstring tendon is gone.”
The immediate impact of Wee Wern’s injury is her withdrawal from the Women’s World Team Championship squad with the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia naming Rachel Arnold as replacement.
Rachel joined national champion Delia Arnold and national junior S. Sivangasari in leaving yesterday for Paris, where they will be joined by eight-time world champion Nicol David for the tournament which starts on Monday.
“I’m heartbroken at the news,” said Penang-based Wee Wern, 26.
“I’ve been training and moving without a hitch. And I was really looking forward to representing Malaysia next week.
“Now the unexpected has happened and I am exploring all possibilities, most likely resulting in another surgery.
“Meanwhile, I wish the girls all the best. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to get back out there with them again.”
Wee Wern underwent a scan on Thursday at the behest of the Podium Programme staff following a physiological test.
National Sports Institute officials will advise Wee Wern on the next course of action, with surgery the likely option.
“A normal human being can function without the ACL because there are three other ligaments in the knee but that is not an option for a highperformance athlete,” said Aaron.
“Wee Wern has to think about the longevity of her career and we will seek the opinion of NSI and Podium Programme officials.” By Devinder Singh