Kai Wun risking his health in hunt for WTF ticket

The 25-year-old men's doubles shuttler admitted he has been playing amid a 7cm tear in his right calf in a desperate bid to keep his and Man Wei Chong's qualification hopes alive.

The world No. 5, who are Malaysia's third-best men's doubles, have been battling through the European swing, reaching the quarter-finals at the French Open and semi-finals at the Hylo Open despite Kai Wun's condition.

"Yes, the fight was to qualify for the World Tour, so we tried in France and Hylo, and the results were okay," Kai Wun said.

"It's tough because I had to push myself for the tournament. When you have an injury this big, it's not easy to recover, but I did it because of my strong desire."

Kai Wun revealed that the muscle tear occurred shortly before the Arctic Open. He rested for two weeks before returning to competition, though he admitted he was far from fit.

"I didn't train at all for two weeks and only started moving lightly two days before the French tournament," he said.

"Even the coach could see that I couldn't move properly, but during the tournament, I just wanted to enjoy playing."

The injury, which affects the calf and extends up to the hamstring, continues to trouble him.

"There is still some swelling. I feel there is still a tear, maybe a small one. I'll probably need another scan to see if it has healed," he said.

Kai Wun conceded that the injury has tested him mentally as much as physically.

"Initially, it really affected me mentally, he said.

"During those two or three days after it happened, only I knew how I felt. From the outside, people might see me and think I'm okay, but only I know what's in my heart."

Despite the pain, the duo, who won the Indonesia and Malaysia Masters this season, are determined to continue competing as they aim to secure a spot among the top eight pairs in Hangzhou.

"For now, yes, because our points are up there, so it's hard for us to stop," said Kai Wun, who confirmed their participation at the Kumamoto Masters next week.

"We have to play because we're still fighting for the Finals."

Having suffered with injuries throughout his career, Kai Wun described his body as "a bit delicate", but his spirit remains unshaken.

"It depends on myself. It's all about mental strength. If you think about the pain, you really can't play."