KUALA LUMPUR: Thank you, Vivian Hoo.
There were banners around Axiata Arena in honour of doubles shuttler Vivian, afterall it was her final stint at the Malaysian Open after serving the country for more than 16 years.
And the 34-year-old Vivian gave her heart and soul but her dream of a deep run in her swansong at the home meet was unfulfilled as she and her partner, Lim Chiew Sien, were eliminated in the second round.
Vivian and Chiew Sien put up a fierce fight against Tan Ning-Liu Shengshu of China, but the Olympic Games silver medalists proved too difficult to overcome and the Malaysians lost 6-21, 5-21 in 30 minutes.
As soon as the match ended, the fans applauded, giving a fitting tribute to Vivian.
Vivian had mixed emotions yesterday.
One of her regrets in her career is that she has never reached the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open since her debut in 2012, even with her previous partners Lim Yin Loo and Woon Khe Wei.
“It was my desire to perform well on home soil with Chiew Sien, but the best achievement we’ve had here has been reaching the quarter-finals,” said Vivian.
“Nonetheless, I still have sweet memories from my time in this tournament, especially when I was a young player alongside Khe Wei.”
Vivian can end her chapter knowing that she has done the best for the country.
As one of the key players for the national team, Vivian has achieved numerous successes during her peak years.
She has won two Commonwealth Games gold medals with two different partners, starting with Khe Wei in the 2014 Glasgow edition and four years later with Chow Mei Kuan in Gold Coast.
In addition, she also won a silver medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon and a gold medal at the 2013 SEA Games in Naypyidaw.
Although she is no longer active as a player, her passion for badminton remains strong, and she is eager to share her experiences with the new generation.
Vivian is currently in the process of establishing her badminton academy, which will be based in Balakong.
“As we know, there aren’t many female players in Malaysia, so with the establishment of my academy, I aim to uncover more new talents, especially among female players,” she added.
