A BATTLING performance against Indonesia’s Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan has given national men’s doubles pair Chia Weijie-Liew Xun more belief ahead of a possible rematch in the SEA Games in Cambodia.
Debutants Weijie-Liew Xun had caught the eye when the world No. 106 came close to causing a huge upset against world No. 33 and last year’s Asian champions Pramudya-Yeremia in the men’s team final on Thursday before losing narrowly 21-13, 16-21, 16-21.
Though disappointed with the defeat, Weijie-Liew Xun are fired up to give the Indonesians another run for their money if they meet again the individual events.
“Our opponents played better than us overall but this performance has given us belief that we can at least give them another close fight if we meet again in the individual event,” said Weijie.
“We need to improve in terms of strategy and need to handle the pressure better.
“We also made some simple mistakes in the second game and need to avoid this.”
Based on the draw for the individual event, both pairs are expected to clash in the last four.
Before that, Weijie-Liew Xun need to first beat Vietnam’s Nguyen Dinh Hoang-Tran Dinh Manh in the first round and most likely Singapore’s Nge Joo Jie-Johann Prajogo in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian pair, Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Zhe will play homesters Sorn Liza-Sophanith Reach in the opening round today.
A win will likely see Chun Meng-Boon Zhe face Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul in the last eight.
The former had got the better of the Thai pair in the semi-finals of the team event.
Meanwhile, in the women’s doubles, twin sisters Cheng Su Hui-Cheng Su Yin will open their campaign against Vietnam’s Dinh Thi Phuong-Pham Thi Khanh while scratch pairing Low Yeen Yuan-Lee Xin Jie will meet another Vietnamese pair, Than Van Anh-Vi Thi Anh.
