Change of tactics at the crucial time does wonders for Peng Soon-Liu Ying
PETALING JAYA: It’s double the pressure when you are one of the stars of a tournament.
Last year’s mixed doubles runners-up Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying came within a whisker of being bundled out on the opening day of the All-England Championship in Birmingham.
Fortunately, right tactics at the dire moment saw Peng Soon-Liu Ying turn their fortunes around by beating Sam Magee-Chloe Magee of Ireland 18-21, 24-22, 21-15 in a 68-minute first round match yesterday at the Arena Birmingham.
They were on the brink of defeat in the second game when they trailed 12-15 and 22-22 but managed to step on the gas to force a deuce.
They will likely take on eighth seeds Zhang Nan-Li Yinhui of China in the second round today.
It’s the duo’s first major tournament in 11 months since the return of Liu Ying from a shoulder injury in November.
“This All-England is different because there is more pressure on us,” she said.
“It’s not a positive start. We lacked the confidence and were worried for one another – probably because we have not played in a high level tournament for a long time.
“We did the right thing by changing our tactics in the crucial part of the second game.
“Fortunately, we were also not faulted under the new service rule. We’ll be more prepared for the next match,” she added.
The miserable run of mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing continued when they crashed out in the first round with a 18-21, 11-21 defeat to Indonesians Hafiz Faizal- Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja of Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Canada’s Michelle Li showed she was shaping up well for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, next month when she upset third seed and former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand 21-15, 14-21, 21-19 in the first round of the women’s singles competition.
Michelle is seen as one of the main challengers for Malaysia’s Soniia Cheah in Gold Coast.