KUALA LUMPUR: It was not the swansong Tan Kian Meng (pic) had hoped for at the All-England, as the mixed doubles shuttler crashed out in the first round against a lower-ranked opponent.
However, he has come to terms with the reality that this marks the end of his 13-year career in badminton.
Kian Meng and his partner, Lai Pei Jing, fell to Taiwan’s Chen Cheng-kuan-Hsu Yin-hui 18-21, 20-22 after a 43-minute battle at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.
From the outset, Kian Meng had aimed to simply enjoy his final match without putting undue pressure on himself. He takes pride in a career spanning over a decade, filled with highs and lows alongside Pei Jing.
He also never imagined that his decision to switch to mixed doubles in 2014, after initially competing in men’s singles, would pay off, culminating in the pair reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 5 at the end of 2022.
“For me, my career with Pei Jing has been an incredible journey. I never expected us to become the world No. 5 pair.
“I truly never imagined we could reach such heights in our careers,” said Kian Meng.
Over their 11-year partnership, Kian Meng-Pei Jing have clinched multiple titles together, including a bronze medal at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines and another at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
After retiring, Kian Meng plans to focus on online sales to make a living.
Meanwhile, his partner Pei Jing will continue her career alongside young shuttler Jimmy Wong, with the duo set to make their debut at the Vietnam International Challenge on March 25.
