Out too Soon
Chan left ruing another missed chance – no thanks to partner Liu Ying’s ‘Achilles heel’
THE disappointment written all over Chan Peng Soon’s face said it all.
The 30-year-old Peng Soon and partner Goh Liu Ying let slip a golden opportunity to go all the way to nail their first world title after they were eliminated in the mixed doubles quarter-finals at the Youth Olympic Sports Park Arena yesterday.
The Rio Olympic Games silver medallists lost 12-21, 21-11, 10-21 in 56 minutes to world No. 4 Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong.
And they could have won it if not for Liu Ying’s below-par condition.
She aggravated an injury on her left Achilles heel in the opening game but battled through the pain to give their opponents a run for their money but it was just not good enough.
With Liu Ying struggling to make a mark, there was nothing more Peng Soon could do to prevent Chun Man-Ying Suet from marching on.
“I’m sad and disappointed,” said a dejected Peng Soon.
“We’ve competed in many World Championships but for once, I felt that we really had a good chance of winning a medal, if not the title.
“I wanted to win so badly today. I tried to cover for my injured partner as much as I can. But in the end, it was just not enough.”
Liu Ying revealed she had sustained the injury during the last-16 match on Thursday against England’s Marcus Ellis-Lauren Smith.
“I still went on to play and I fought. I had 80% in me. We lost but I gave everything I had out there.”
Liu Ying, who has a history of career-threatening knee injuries, was quick to play down the gravity of her heel issue yesterday.
Her condition does not augur well for her Asian Games plans (Sept 18-Aug 2).
“I haven’t seen the doctor yet, but I think I’m fine. I can walk without a problem,” she said.
National mixed doubles head coach Pang Cheh Chang said Liu Ying played on as the injury was not too serious.
“She was doing fine until she tried to retrieve Chun Man’s drop shot and twisted her heel in the first game. That’s when the problem got worse,” said Cheh Chang.
“We made a tactical change in the second game where Peng Soon needed to work extra hard while Liu Ying was still able to play her role despite her limited movement.
“But the opponents eventually noticed something was wrong and started to pressure Peng Soon. Liu Ying couldn’t help much.
“In a two-against-one situation, it was just too much for Peng Soon. He’s tough but he has his limitations.”
Malaysia last won a medal – a bronze through Koo Kien KeatWong Pei Tty at the world meet in Madrid, Spain, in 2006.