IT was only a bronze medal but mixed doubles shuttlers Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying still had to win it as if it was the gold.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying had to contest the bronze-medal playoff with India’s Satwik Rankireddy-Ashwini Ponnappa after going down fighting 19-21, 17-21 to Chris Adcock-Gabrielle Adcock of England in the semi-finals at the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre yesterday.
The odds were against the Malaysians after they lost to the Indians during the mixed team final on Sunday but they redeemed their pride with a sensational 21-19, 21-19 win in 48 minutes.
It was Peng Soon-Liu Ying’s first individual medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Peng Soon was happy to end the gallant run of the Indians, who are coached by former Malaysia doubles head coach Tan Kim Her.
“The expectation was high on the mixed doubles. We did not deliver at the mixed team event and we did not want to fail again,” said Peng Soon.
Their determination showed from the start as Peng Soon and Liu Ying combined superbly and assaulted Satwik-Ashwini a string of smashes in the closely contested match.
“We finally showed that the Indians are beatable,” said Peng Soon.
Liu Ying said she struggled towards the end of the match due to the phobia of losing at the same stage eight years ago in New Delhi.
“I panicked. It was the same thing eight years ago.
“I lost in the semi-finals with Peng Soon and we went on to lose in the bronze-medal playoff too,” said Liu Ying.
“I made some mistakes in the critical stage in the second game but thankfully, we managed to finish well this time. This bronze medal means a lot to the mixed doubles department.
“I’m also very happy that my combination with Peng Soon is getting better,” added Liu Ying.
England are assured of the gold with the Adcocks taking on teammates Marcus Ellis-Lauren Smith in the final today.
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