Peng Soon the model out to create iconic image.
Chan out to be equal of Liu ying in glamour stakes
It looks like Goh Liu Ying has a fight on her hands from none other than her mixed doubles partner.
Chan Peng Soon is not lying down and letting himself be outdone by his more glamorous partner.
The 32-year-old has upped his game and found himself featured on the front cover of a local online magazine ‘Iconic Men Malaysia’ for its June-July edition.
With his slicked hairstyle, Peng Soon looked sharp in an all-black attire which has sent his Instagram followers into a frenzy, with some even likening him to South Korean singer Rain.
Peng Soon, who has now done modelling work for Li-Ning, Daikin and Yobick, said he is beginning to get accustomed to it.
“I kind of enjoy it because it gives me a chance to show my other side,” said Peng Soon, who is a father of four.
“Anyway, I’m not so much into fashion. I’m more into casual wear and hardly dress up, unless for special occasions.
“I thought the one on the Iconic Men Malaysia magazine was awesome. The shot was nicely taken, I love it. I saw some comments that I looked like Rain and I was like no way! I’m Chan Peng Soon!” the shuttler quipped.
Asked if he is considering giving modelling a shot as a post-retirement career, he said: “I’ll probably continue doing it on the side or for the fun of it. But full-time, I don’t think so.”
Meanwhile, Liu Ying, who has graced several magazines and advertisements, has been making herself productive since the badminton season was brought to a halt in mid-March.
The 30-year-old has been quietly laying the groundwork for the launch of her badminton school – the GLY Badminton Academy (GLYBA).
She took to social media with a teaser of the impending launch with a logo and “Coming Soon” caption.
Liu Ying previously told StarSport that she was planning to set up a badminton academy in China with former teammate and good friend Lim Yin Loo as part of her post-retirement plans.
But it turns out that the Dongguanbased academy is already up and running since January.
“It has actually started operating in January,” disclosed Liu Ying. “Yin Loo and I are here but we have a few coaches who are managing.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, everything was carried out on a lowkey manner and we didn’t even have a proper opening ceremony.”
Liu Ying and Peng Soon have returned to training since indoor sports facilities were allowed to reopen under the recovery movement control order on June 15.
But they are undecided on their tournament schedule due to the current travel restrictions.
If all goes well, the earliest tournament they are expected to make a comeback at after close to a sixmonth hiatus is the Taiwan Open in September where they reached the semi-finals last year.