Hoh Shoulders Leading Role, Two Years After Career Nearly Ended

Hoh Shoulders Leading Role, Two Years After Career Nearly Ended

Justin Hoh was having a stellar start to 2023, reaching the semifinal of the Estonia International and collecting crowns at the Iran Fajr and Uganda International Challenges, when fate took a cruel turn in April.

The Malaysian ruptured his Achilles tendon, an injury that not only halted his promising season but also threatened his entire career.

“At the time, I was really sad and thought I might not come back from this,” he recalls.

The injury was a devastating blow for then 19-year-old. Achilles ruptures are notorious for their long and gruelling recovery process; many players never return to their previous level.

But Hoh wasn’t completely alone in his struggle. He found inspiration in the story of Beiwen Zhang, who ruptured her Achilles at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and made a remarkable comeback just nine months later.

“I’m very thankful to my family, my rehab and physiotherapy team and the surgeon,” Hoh says, his gratitude evident. “They kept me motivated, telling me about players like Beiwen who came back and went on to win tournaments. I looked at all her Instagram posts.”

Hoh’s recovery was anything but easy. The first six weeks where he was unable to walk, were especially challenging.

“I had already been wearing the protective boot for a long time. Then it was time to try my first walk in shoes. Nine weeks in, I was walking like a zombie,” he jested, managing a laugh despite the bleak memory. “I couldn’t balance myself well enough. I thought how hard it was going to be to come back. It was annoying for the first four weeks, I could only sit on a chair and shower sitting down. Then there’s the sleeping in the boot. Just so annoying.”

Despite the mental and physical struggles, Hoh found solace in small things – video calls with friends, playing games, watching TV and reading. His teammates frequently visited, providing much-needed support.

“Honestly, I couldn’t motivate myself and was thinking many negative things but my teammates and family motivated me every day and did rehab with me.”

Seven months after the injury, Hoh made his long-awaited return at Syed Modi International 2023. While he didn’t win the tournament, the mere fact he was competing again was a victory in itself.

His resilience and determination were further rewarded when he was called up for international duty at the TotalEnergies BWF Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2024. Hoh played two crucial matches for his country, marking his full return to the international stage while achieving a bronze medal. His 2024 season saw him win the Slovenia Li-Ning Open, Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas and Dove Saipan International.

And next week in Xiamen, Hoh will play a more important role for his country – stepping up following injuries to Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong – at the TotalEnergies BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2025, exactly two years after his career was thrown into doubt.

Hoh’s story is a beacon of hope for anyone facing a similar challenge.

His advice?

“Stay patient and don’t rush the recovery. Focus on the small victories each day and lean on your support system. It’s a long road, but you can come back stronger.”

Malaysia open their Group C campaign against France on Day 2 of competition. They then complete the round-robin against Australia and Japan.