Good times ahead for women’s singles, says Jing Yi

KUALA LUMPUR: The rise of three shuttlers has given Malaysia hopes of better fortunes in the women’s singles event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

At last month’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics, national women’s singles No. 1 Tee Jing Yi – the sole representative at the Games – failed to clear the group stage.

While women’s singles failed to deliver the goods, Malaysia won three silver medals in men’s singles (Lee Chong Wei), men’s doubles (Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong) and mixed doubles (Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying).

Even Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo reached the women’s doubles quarter-finals for the first time.

But the progress shown by three younger women’s singles shuttlers – Soniia Cheah, Goh Jin Wei and Ho Yen Mei – has given Jing Yi reason to be optimistic.

“I used to be alone, but now we have a few younger ones moving up. All three of them have the potential to go far,” said the 25-yearold Jing Yi.

The 23-year-old Soniia, troubled by an Achilles injury for almost three years, showed that she has regained her form when she bagged her first international title at the Belgian International badminton championships on Sunday.

Malaysia’s 16-year-old reigning world junior champion Jin Wei reached the final of a Grand Prix Gold tournament for the first time at the Indonesian Masters two weeks ago while 21-year-old Yen Mei has already captured one international title – the Polish International Series – last year.

“China’s top player, Wang Yihan, has quit the sport after the Rio Olympics. Two others – China’s Li Xuerui and India’s Saina Nehwal have just undergone surgeries for their injuries.

“There are other good players, but this is the chance for our players to step up,” said Jing Yi, who, is still reeling from her Rio disappointment.