Pang Ron wants to excel in badminton just like his sister

KUALA LUMPUR: Hoo Pang Ron (pic) wants to become a top badminton player – just like his sister Vivian Hoo.

And the 18-year-old, who is eight years younger than Vivian, joined the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in January after spending five years under the Kuala Lumpur state badminton programme.

He has been paired up with Peck Yen Wei in the mixed doubles.

“It’s been a dream year for me. I have always looked up to my sister ... now I’m in the national team with her,” said Pang Ron.

The lanky shuttler, standing at 180cm, took part in the World Junior Championships in Spain last month. He was a member of the mixed team who won a silver medal, but crashed out in the boys’ doubles third round with Amri Ameer Zainuddin.

“I struggled when I joined BAM, but I’m able to cope with the training now,” said Pang Ron, who won the 100Plus National Under-16 boys’ singles and doubles titles for Kuala Lumpur in 2014.

“My sister is my inspiration. She always come back home tired – having to juggle her training, tournaments and Sports Science studies in University Malaya. But she manages her time well and I aim to do the same.

“She always finds time for family too. Sometimes, during weekends, we’d go fishing together.

“She also did so well with Khe Wei at the Olympics (reaching the quarter-finals) ... I think that was her best performance. I’m motivated to play in the Olympics one day.”

On his new partnership with the 21-year-old Yen Wei, he said: “She is more experienced ... together, I hope we will work hard to become one of the best pairs.”

In the ongoing National Grand Prix Finals at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara, Pang Ron has made it to the mixed doubles final with Shevon Lai Jemie, his former partner.

They will take on Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing today.