KUALA LUMPUR: Former national champion Low Wee Wern is targeting a return to the world's top-10 in two years after a long spell battling knee injuries.
Wee Wern has a set a February date to return to competitive squash in what will be a long road to regain the form which saw her reach fifth in the world rankings in October 2014.
The 27-year-old from Penang is progressing well from several surgeries to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee which she first tore in March 2015.
"So far so good," said Wee Wern when asked of her progress through rehabilitation.
"I'm back training on court, being able to hit the ball and sparring with my coach Aaron (Soyza) and other players.
"I have to go through testing in mid-January and if I pass that then I will be able to play competitively. I hope to be able to play my first tournament in February."
Wee Wern has entered the Malaysian Squash Tour's fifth leg in Penang on Feb 28-Mar 2 in a bid to regain fitness and form ahead of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.
"I have given myself two years to get back in the top-10 but with my ranking as low as it is (242nd), I won't be able to play any of the top players very often," said Wee Wern.
"So I hope to play in the singles at the Commonwealth Games as it will be one of the few times I will be able to challenge players in the top-10 or top-20 next year."
Wee Wern made her first comeback from the ACL injury in November 2015 but missed all of 2017 after scans in late 2016 revealed the graft which held her ligaments together had disappeared.
Her absence has left Nicol David as Malaysia’s sole flag-bearer in major women’s events on the PSA Tour and Wee Wern’s return will be crucial to Malaysia’s hopes of retaining the Asian Games women’s team gold medal in Indonesia in August.