Auspicious moment: National Olympic Academy of Malaysia director Nicholas Chan (third from right) posing with Goh Liu Ying during the Kidslympic launch at Merdeka Stadium yesterday. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Former mixed doubles shuttler Goh Liu Ying believes her juniors Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei have what it takes to pull a surprise at the BWF World Tour Finals next week.
World No. 8 Tang Jie-Ee Wei will be competing in Hangzhou from Dec 11-15, and 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist Liu Ying said the pair must mentally focus well for the Finals.
“It’s definitely tough at the Finals, but I feel Tang Jie-Ee Wei stands a chance. Their biggest challenge will be mentally,” said Liu Ying, who did the country proud by winning a silver medal with Chan Peng Soon at the 2016 Rio de Janerio Olympic Games. “They (Tang Jie-Ee Wei) used to chase after their idols to improve their ranking points, but now they are one of the top pairs being eyed by the younger generation.
“They just need to perform consistently in training and competitions,” said Liu Ying during the launch of the Kidslympic at Merdeka Stadium yesterday.
Recalling all the best moments this year, including the rise of Tang Jie-Ee Wei, Liu Ying sees women’s doubles duo Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah’s Olympics campaign as one for the books.
Pearly-Thinaah, who made their way into the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics, had pleasantly surprised Liu Ying.
“I was surprised and happy with the performance put on by Pearly-Thinaah in Paris.
“We do see fewer female players representing the country, and for them to be the first Malaysians to enter the women’s doubles semi-finals was a shocking result.
“Moving forward, I hope that we will have more female players joining after seeing our women’s doubles players exploits,” she said.
Pair to watch: Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei.
Yesterday, Liu Ying was announced as the ambassador for the Kidslympic from Dec 27-29, and has the backing of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and the Education Ministry.
An initiative by the National Olympic Academy and Mycreative Moment, the programme is set to bring together 1,500 children nationwide to compete in various sports events, including gymnastics, taekwondo, modern pentathlon, basketball, softball, athletics, and volleyball.
