Playing it safe

NATIONAL Sports Institute physiotherapist Sandra Fiedler has ruled out the possibility of Lee Chong Wei returning to full training for at least another four weeks as she wants to ensure that the World No 1 doesn't aggravate the ankle injury during rehabilitation which began yesterday.
Sandra, who has also helped former national players Wong Choong Hann and Lee Wan Wah recover from surgeries, said Chong Wei is currently in good physical shape but that doesn't mean he can return to on-court training anytime soon.
Chong Wei had undergone a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan at the Kuala Lumpur Sports Medicine Centre last week after which Dr Saw Khay Yong and Dr Nicholas Geary confirmed the shuttler had only suffered a ligament tear and not the Achilles tendon tear as first feared.
The player has already had two stem cell injections and another is scheduled for next week to help the healing process, while Sandra's physiotherapy sessions are expected to help Chong Wei return to training in early July.
"This is the first physiotherapy session and it is still too early to say. However, this injury normally takes between four to six weeks to heal. We have to make sure he stays fit during the rehabilitation period," said Sandra.
"I wouldn't want to push it (the recovery) too soon as we have to be very careful that Chong Wei doesn't aggravate the injury. There will be frequent physiotherapy sessions in the morning
"Chong We is relaxed and I assume there is always some amount of fear although he is not showing it. I will always do my best to help him overcome the fear factor during my physiotherapy sessions."
Chong Wei will also undergo a physical training session today which will focus on his upper body under trainer Roesdi Ghani.
Meanwhile, national singles coach Tey Seu Bock is hopeful Chong Wei will be able to return to full training within four weeks but his main concern is the mental state of the player who has suffered two injuries in a 10-week span.
"We are optimistic he can return to training within four weeks but my concern is the possible phobia Chong Wei will have with the Olympics just two months away," said Seu Bock.
Badminton at the Olympics begins at Wembley Arena on July 28 which will give Chong Wei about four weeks to prepare if his recovery is on schedule.
Chong Wei looks certain of competing in the Olympics but winning a medal is a different story altogether.
Courtesy of New Straits Times