SHUTTLERS TOLD TO STAY GROUNDED
Cheh Chang wants Soon Huat-Shevon not to be overconfident after beating top seeds
GOH Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie have done what their seniors couldn’t, when they upset top seeds Tontowi AhmadLiliyana Natsir of Indonesia to clinch the Singapore Open title yesterday.
Two weeks after Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying lost to the Indonesians in the final of the Indonesia Open, Soon Huat-Shevon turned things around with a superb 21-19, 21-18 win for their maiden BWF World Tour Super 500 crown.
National mixed doubles head coach Pang Cheh Chang said the win was a good breakthrough for Soon Huat-Shevon, as well as a timely boost ahead of the World Championships in Nanjing, China, next week.
Cheh Chang said: “The win (Sunday) is definitely a confidence booster for Soon Huat-Shevon, because Tontowi-Liliyana are not only World No 1, they are also reigning Olympic and world champions.
“As you know, Soon Huat-Shevon have been struggling to find their form, especially after crashing out in the opening round of the Malaysia and Indonesia Opens, so this win came at the right time.
“However, they must stay grounded. There is still a long way to go. The World Championships is a complete different ball game. I want Soon Huat-Shevon to stay hungry.”
According to Cheh Chang, he will continue experimenting with training programmes, as one cannot remain stagnant.
“Soon Huat-Shevon may have done well today, but that does not guarantee they will do well at the world meet. Others are also preparing.
“Same goes for the Asian Games next month. I don’t think Tontowi-Liliyana would want to go down again, so we have to keep working hard.
“When you do well, others will take notice and analyse your game. You have to keep changing,” added Cheh Chang.
Shevon, who was over the moon with yesterday’s the win, said: “Definitely the best performance from us. We are just so surprised that I am still lost for feeling.”
Soon Huat-Shevon, for their efforts at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, pocketed US$28,045 (RM114,000) in prize money, while Tontowi-Liliyana, who decided to skip the world meet to focus on the Asian Games in Indonesia next month, settled for US$13,490 (RM55,000).
FINAL RESULTS — Men’s singles:
Chou Tien Chen (Tai) bt Hsu Jen Hao (Tai) 21-13, 2113; Muhammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan (Ina) bt Ou Xuanyi-Ren Xiangyu (Chn) 21-13, 21-19 ; Ayako Sakuramoto-Yukiko Takahata (Jpn) bt Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (Jpn) 16-21, 24-22, 21-13;
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie bt Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (Ina) 21-19, 21-18.