ALBERT “AJ” Lim Jr. is leaving for the United States on Wednesday looking to get his confidence and rhythm back in time for the Asian Games in Indonesia next month.
Lim did not see action for the Philippines in the Davis Cup tie with Thailand in April due to a right shoulder injury he suffered in leading University of the East to its second straight UAAP championship in March.
Apart from anchoring UE to the team championship, Lim also won the MVP title for the second straight year after going undefeated.
Now pain free, the 18-year-old Lim is ready to go full throttle in his training under Fil-Am coaches – many-time SEA Games champion Cecil Mamiit and Orlando Silvosa – while also girding up for several Futures tournaments as he goes for precious points for the Tokyo Olympics two years from now.
Backed by Philta through its president Antonio Cablitas, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Airlines through its president and COO Jaime Bautista, Lim is looking to improve his timing and quickness ahead of the Asian Games knowing pretty well his rivals are no ordinary competitors.
“They’re all much experienced players than us so we have to prepare hard,” said Lim who was recently honored as one of the country’s young achievers during the Siklab Awards
He also played a key role in the country’s 4-1 demolition of Indonesia in February.
Prior to his injury that sidelined him for almost three months, Lim also took part in two tournaments in China.
Lim, who made history two years ago when he became the youngest winner of the PCA Open at 16, also intends to compete in more challenging tournaments abroad to be ready for the SEA Games which the country is hosting in December 2019.
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