Badminton

#IndianOpen: Peng Soon-Liu Ying ready for redemption

Malaysia’s top mixed doubles pair are currently in action at the Indian Open in New Delhi, and they are hoping to play better than they did in All England.

Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying’s hopes of making history at the All England Championship were halted by China’s Lu Kai-Huang Yaqiong in the mixed doubles final in All England. The Chinese pair won 21-18, 19-21 and 21-16 and Peng Soon-Liu Ying had to settle for silver.

The same thing happened at the Rio Olympics, where the pair fought hard to make the finals, but they were defeated by Indonesia’s duo Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir in a straight set 21-14, 21-12.

Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying will make sure that things will be different at the Indian Open.

“It was a close defeat at the All-England. We hope to play well again in India.” Goh Liu Ying said.

“We’ve prepared well but we’re not putting too much pressure on ourselves.”

The world No. 6 pair easily defeated their home opponents Venkat Gaurav Prasad and Juhi Dewangan 21-12, 21-12 in the first round yesterday. The pair hope to carry on with this winning momentum all the way to the finals, and emerge as champions.

“After India, we’ll play at the Malaysian Open in Kuching next week. We definitely want to do well at home.” Liu Ying added.

Malaysia top men’s duo and world No. 2 Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong also cruised into the second round, despite Wee Kiong suffering from neck pains. The duo managed to outclass Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Kedren Kittinu­pong 21-17, 21-19.

The Indian Open is happening in New Delhi from the 29th of March until 2nd of April 2017.

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