Wealth of experience: Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie will be the most experienced shuttlers in the Asia Mixed Team Championships squad.
KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie may be among the oldest players in the national squad for the Asia Mixed Team Championships in Qingdao, China, starting on Feb 11, but their wealth of experience could be a key asset to the team.
Moreover, they have carried their strong form from last season into this year, making impressive runs to the semi-finals of both the Malaysian and Indian Opens early last month.
Building on that momentum, Soon Huat-Shevon believe they can contribute to the team, who are largely made up of young players, particularly by fostering strong team spirit.
The husband and wife duo are the only professional players called up to join the national squad for the campaign in Qingdao, China, next week, while the rest of the team comprise national players.
“We are always ready to play, even though we just finished a tournament and celebrated Chinese New Year. Now, we are back in training for the Asia meet. It is always a proud moment to represent the country again.
“We are really looking forward to this because, as you know, there are no top players in the Malaysian squad this time. So we want to take this opportunity to gain different experiences alongside these young players,” said Shevon.
They will officially begin centralised training with the rest of the squad at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara today.
Although they have limited time to build chemistry with their teammates, Soon Huat and Shevon do not see it as a major challenge in adapting to the team.
For the record, the last time they represented Malaysia in a team event was at the 2023 Sudirman Cup in Suzhou, China, where the national squad secured a bronze medal.
They also have experience competing in this championship, having participated in the 2017 edition in Ho Chi Minh. However, Malaysia’s journey ended in the quarter-finals after a defeat to China.
“I believe our experience, especially in terms of team spirit, can help guide the younger players.
“This is the first time we are competing with a squad with a wide age gap. We are also not very familiar with their training routines or playing styles.
“So we will need some time to adjust, but if any issues arise, we hope to help stabilise the team,” added Shevon.
