PETALING JAYA: Independent mixed doubles shuttler Lai Pei Jing hopes to regain her best form in the Asian Mixed Team Championships at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates starting today.
Pei Jing and Tan Kian Meng, who are currently ranked sixth in the world, have crashed out in the early rounds of their last three tournaments this year – the Malaysian Open, Indian Open and Indonesian Masters – but they are determined to end their poor run in Dubai.
The 30-year-old Pei Jing said they were working on regaining their confidence after getting off to a slow start.
But Pei Jing acknowledges that there are many factors that could influence the process.
“The results in the first three tournaments were not ideal and it has caused us to lose our confidence,” admitted Pei Jing.
“We’re trying to bring back the self-belief and form.
“We don’t exclude the possibility of regaining our best form in this competition, but many things are unpredictable.
“There are pressure and team commitment ... playing in team and individual events are different.”
Kian Meng-Pei Jing will be joined by Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and both pairs are expected to get equal chance to compete.
“I’m grateful that the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) selected us to be part of the team, and hopefully we can perform well to repay their good faith in us,” said Pei Jing.
“We hope it will turn out to be a memorable outing because it is a collaboration between independent and BAM players.”
The others in the team are Lee Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao (men’s singles); Goh Jin Wei, Wong Ling Ching (women’s singles); Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (men’s doubles); and Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah,Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee (women’s doubles).
The Malaysians are in Group B with India, Kazakhstan and hosts UAE where the top two teams will advance to the quarter-finals.
The top four teams will qualify for the Sudirman Cup, which will take place in Suzhou, China, from May 14-21.
