Malaysia mixed doubles shuttlers Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin in action against Hong Kong’s Hung Kuei-chun-Tsang Hiu-yan during the first round of Malaysian Masters at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Wednesday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttler Cheng Su Yin has to shed her fears and self-doubt to regain her best form.
Su Yin has struggled for form this year with Hoo Pang Ron and suffered a second-round defeat to eventual champions Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje of Denmark in the Macau Open last week.
Worryingly, it was the pair's ninth early round exit this year and they have only made it as far as the last eight twice in the Indonesian Masters and Orleans Masters.
Pang Ron-Su Yin finished runners-up in the China Masters last November but have looked a shadow of their best selves this year.
National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said that the 22-year-old Su Yin is struggling with fear and self-doubt and needs to overcome these to get back to her best.
"Pang Ron-Su Yin's problems started when they unexpectedly lost to a Taiwanese pair in the Malaysian Open first round in January," said Rexy.
"They were leading but could not maintain their performance and lost. After that, Su Yin started doubting herself.
"Last year, she played with a nothing-to-lose mentality as there were no expectations on her and Pang Ron.
"She was fearless as it was a surprise whenever they won. This year, she has started to feel pressured and fears making mistakes.
"She and Pang Ron have stagnated and she needs to change her way of thinking," added Rexy.
Pang Ron-Su Yin don't have much time to work on their weaknesses with the World Championships coming up next for them from Aug 25-31 in Paris.
The pair will be making their debuts together in the prestigious meet.
The other Malaysia mixed doubles pairs that have qualified are world No. 4 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and world No. 6 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.
For the record, Malaysia have only won a medal once in the mixed doubles in the world meet through Koo Kien Keat-Wong Pei Tty, who claimed bronze in the 2006 edition in Madrid.
In the last edition in 2023 in Copenhagen, Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who reached the quarter-finals, were the country's best performers in the mixed doubles.
