Expectations weigh down Pei Jing
NATIONAL shuttler Lai Pei Jing is already feeling the pressure as she gears up for her fourth World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
The 25-year-old mixed doubles player and her partner Tan Kian Meng are seeded eighth for the 23rd edition of the world meet on Aug 21-27.
When met yesterday at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) after the BA of Malaysia’s (BAM) first monthly assembly, Pei Jing said: “I am feeling the pressure because this time around I will be partnering Kian Meng, who will be making his World Championships debut.
“My previous three appearances were with my then partner Tan Aik Quan, and there wasn’t much expectation on us. This time Kian Meng and I are seeded eighth, so we have to perform.
“Good thing is, none of us are carrying any injury and our fitness is good.”
The Malaysian duo, currently ranked No 10 in the world, are in the bottom half of the draw for the World Championships, and have already been awarded a first round bye.
Kian Meng-Pei Jing, who have one title to their belt this season (Malaysia Masters) are expected to play Indonesia’s Irfan Fadhilah-Weni Anggraini in the second round.
“I don’t want to think too far ahead, because most of the time when we dream big, it backfires.
“It’s always our eagerness to win that brings us down. Sometimes we want to play those perfect strokes but it doesn’t happen, I don’t want it to be like that this time.
“Kian Meng and I have agreed to approach the world meet by taking things one step at a time.”
Also in the bottom half of the draw are second seeds Lu KaiHuang Yaqiong of China, third seeds Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia, sixth seeds Joachim Fischer NielsenChristinna Pedersen of Denmark and ninth seeds Choi Solgyuchae Yoo Jung of South Korea. Fabian Peter