Duo serving out an SOS

Help wanted: Goh Liu Ying (front) and Chan Peng Soon need a sports performance analyst.

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying are crying out for help.

The country’s best-performing shuttlers are in dire need of a sports performance analyst to assist them in having a better understanding of their opponents in their bid to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games next year.

But they do not enjoy such a privilege anymore because they are no longer under the banner of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) since turning professional in January this year.

BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria had earlier snubbed the professional pairs’ request for sport science services from the National Sports Institute (NSI) as priority is given to the BAM players.

Norza stressed that professional shuttlers would only enjoy the support services if they earn their tickets on merit for the Tokyo Olympics next May.

Unfortunately, that will be a tad too late for Peng Soon-Liu Ying.

World No. 5 Peng Soon-Liu Ying have the option of looking at a sports science expert outside of the NSI but that will involve money and they are cash-strapped.

The 2016 Rio Olympic silver medallists said they were feeling vulnerable as their opponents seem to know more about their game but they lack the scientific data on their rivals.

This was evident when they went down tamely 10-21, 6-21 to world No. 2 and eventual champions Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping of China in the semi-finals of the Japan Open on Saturday.

A week ago, they lost 13-21, 20-22 to the same pair in the semi-finals of the Indonesian Open.

Peng Soon reckons it’s imperative for him and Liu Ying to get help from a sports performance expert to keep up with their rivals.

“The outcomes of the last two tournaments showed we desperately need a sports analyst,” said Peng Soon.

“We were soundly beaten by Yilyu-Dongping. They know our moves and we couldn’t play our game. They have analysed our game very closely with the help of their support service team and coaches.

“Players from other countries are doing the same too with the Olympic qualification currently going full swing.

“We definitely need to get one sports expert to assist us too. Most of the best guys are with the NSI and we are not sure whether there are other certified experts out there.”

This year, Peng Soon-Liu Ying have won the Thailand Masters and New Zealand Open.

They reached the quarter-finals in nine out of the 12 events they competed in this year.