Smash to kill!
Can badminton deliver two gold medals today to help Malaysia finish the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games with seven golds – one better than the Glasgow edition in 2014? That’s down to men’s singles veteran Lee Chong Wei and women’s scratch pair Chow Mei Kuan-Vivian Hoo. Chong Wei must be at his ruthless best to pip India’s world No. 1 K. Srikanth to the gold while Mei KuanVivian square off with England’s Lauren Smith and Sarah Walker in the women’s doubles final.
THE country’s top men’s doubles pair of Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong were disappointed although they picked up a bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
The 2016 Rio Olympic silver medallists blew a good start in the semi-finals yesterday morning when they lost 21-15, 16-21, 15-21 to Marcus Ellis-Chris Langridge of England.
The defeat saw Malaysia’s 28-year men’s doubles domination in seven editions since 1990 shattered.
Malaysia have only failed to win the men’s doubles title twice – in 1974 and 1978 – since badminton was included in 1966.
Malaysia did not compete in badminton at the 1986 Games.
V Shem-Wee Kiong made amends in the evening when they bagged the bronze after an easy 21-8, 21-13 win over Sri Lanka’s Sachin Dias-Buwaneka Goonethilleka.
“We know the high expectations on us to deliver but it’s disappointing to lose,” said Wee Kiong.
The duo, who went through a turbulent2017, showed class in their 21-15 opening win but could not find their touch in the second game.
They tried to restore their fortunes in the decider but it was tough trying overcome the fired-up English pair.
“They changed their tactics in the second game and we could notkeep up,” said Wee Kiong.
V Shem said: “We tried to step up in the decider but the English pair played really good today and we could not stop them.
“Wee Kiong and I are still trying to work on our combination ... we’ll get better.”
The duo only started to play together again this year after their partnership was split for four months last year.
Ellis said the Malaysians were under tremendous pressure to deliver.
“Badminton is really big in Malaysia and being the defending champions, they came with high expectations,” said Ellis.
“We lost to them in the mixed team final but this time, we had nothing to lose and really went all out to win.”
The Rio Olympics bronze medallists take on India’s Satwik Rankireddy-Shetty Chirag in the final today.