Split mixed pairs for international events: Peng Soon
mixed doubles specialist Chan Peng Soon believes it’s better to experiment with scratch pairs in international tournaments rather than exposing them in only local events.
This comes after national mixed doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang revealed his plans to split up four pairs for the National Championships in Ipoh, which started yesterday with the qualifying round.
While admitting it would be easier for him and his partner Goh Liu Ying to win the title on Saturday, Peng Soon doesn’t quite agree with his former coach’s rationale.
“I do not think Liu Ying and I will be pushing ourselves too much in this competition.
“We are looking at it as a warmup ahead of our European tournaments.
“Also, I do not understand the need to split up top national pairs.
“I agree with the idea of seniors taking on the responsibility to guide their juniors but why only split them for the National Championships?
“When I was a national player, I played with several juniors but it was over a longer period of time in international tournaments,” said Peng Soon, who together with Liu Ying quit the BA of Malaysia (BAM) in December.
With just two months left before the start of the one-year Olympic qualifying period, Cheh Chang has opted to scratch his top combinations — Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing for the national meet.
Singapore Open champions Soon Huat and Shevon have been split to partner Hoo Pang Ron and Cheah Yee See, respectively, while Kian Meng-Pei Jing will swap partners with Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei.
Top seeds Peng Soon-Liu Ying will open against a qualifier in Ipoh tomorrow.