SINGAPORE — Bewildered chuckles echoed around the Singapore Indoor Stadium last month at the OUE Singapore Open, when a fan shouted Ronald Susilo’s name as the men’s singles action got under way.

The former top Singaporean shuttler had hung up his racquet in 2010, ending a 12-year career that included giant-slaying feats such as his first-round despatch of then-world No 1 Lin Dan at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.

Ironically, that badminton fan’s wish is about to come true as Susilo, the former world No 6, is training hard for a return at next year’s SEA Games here (June 5-16).

Itching for another chance to compete on home ground, the 34-year-old approached the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) early this year, and last month rejoined the national men’s team for morning training sessions at the Singapore Sports School.

“I approached SBA and said I want to come back for the SEA Games ... the SEA Games is on home ground and with my presence as a senior player, I hope to support the team and guide my juniors,” said Susilo, now father to two-year Rafael Edward. Wife Widyana Mulia is expecting a baby girl next month.

“They had initially asked me to come back for Thomas Cup but my wife is about to give birth, so it’s just going to be the SEA Games.

“It’s been a number of years since I did any training and it was tough at first, especially on my first day. My fitness is only about 50 per cent compared to the 2008 Olympic Games.”

“The home support has always given me a boost and I just like to play at the Indoor Stadium.”

Susilo is remembered fondly by many Singaporean fans, reaching the final four at the All-England Open in 2004 before clinching the Japan Open title and a quarter-final spot at the Olympic Games in the same year, earning him the Sportsman of the Year award in 2005.

A two-time bronze medallist in the men’s team and singles at the 2003 SEA Games, Susilo also took home the silver and bronze in the team event in 2007 and 2009. But a series of injuries and operations to his shoulder, Achilles heel and elbow from 2004 to 2007 saw him retiring from the sport in 2010.

He has made brief appearances on court since, competing in the men’s doubles at the 2012 Li-Ning Singapore Open with brother-in-law Candra Wijaya and winning the Pilot Pen National Age Group Singles in March.

Susilo’s impending return will be a boost to the national men’s team of Derek Wong, Huang Chao, Terry Hee, Chayut Triyachart, Danny Bawa Christnanta and 20-year-old Sean Lee after the squad were hit by the pre-Thomas Cup retirements of seniors Ashton Chen and Terry Yeo last month.

World No 22 women’s singles player Gu Juan had also resigned from the SBA on April 30, citing the inadequacy of the SBA’s training structure to bring her game to the next level as one of the main reasons for her decision.

The national men’s and women’s team — who left for the Thomas and Uber Cup in New Delhi early this morning — are also in the process of rebuilding after dismal outings at last year’s Singapore Open and Myanmar SEA Games.

The SBA said yesterday that it is in talks with Susilo on the possibility of rejoining the team, and chief executive officer Ronnie Lim said: “From SBA’s standpoint, we welcome any Singaporean who can contribute to Team Singapore and will access his suitability accordingly.

“Ronald has already started training and sharing his experience with our players, and this is particularly useful for the Thomas and Uber Cup squads.

“We are currently in the process of working out a competition schedule to prepare him for competing at the highest level. As time draws closer to the SEA Games, we will conduct selection trials to give everybody, including Ronald, a fair chance of participation.”