Disastrous day for Malaysian shuttlers
chances for a podium finish in badminton at the Asian Games hang in the balance after a disastrous day in Jakarta.
The country’s top two mixed doubles Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Chan Peng SoonGoh Liu Ying crashed out in the second round yesterday.
This came after the national team, for the first time in Asian Games history, failed to clear the first round of the men’s team event last week.
The BAM were banking on the two mixed doubles to deliver in the individual events.
However, it all ended in disappointment.
Soon Huat-Shevon lost 14-21, 21-11, 22-20 to fourth seeds Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong, while 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallists Peng Soon-Liu Ying lost 21-17, 19-21, 28-26 to Hong Kong’s Reginald Lee-Chau Hoi Wah.
“Luck was definitely not on our side. We couldn’t finish the match when we had a couple of match points,” lamented Peng Soon at the Istora Senayan Stadium.
Peng Soon, who became a father for the third time recently, admitted they made too many easy mistakes in the decider.
Liu Ying said: “We knew we had the match in the bag after losing the first game, as we played well in the second.
“Somehow, we made too many mistakes in the deciding game.”
Following the end of Malaysia’s interest in the mixed doubles, the country’s hope now lies with sole representative Lee Zii Jia, who defeated Pakistan’s Azeem Sarwar 21-13, 21-10 in the second round.
Zii Jia will take on third seed, Son Wan Ho of South Korea next for a place in the quarter-finals.
It was the end of the road for World Championships bronze medallist Liew Daren, who lost 21-8, 20-22, 21-14 to South Korea’s Heo Kwang Hee in the second round.
Malaysia’s interest in women’s doubles also ended when Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean went down 21-17, 16-21, 21-19 to India’s Ashwini Ponnapa-N. Sikki Reddy.