PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie believe the increasingly open competition in the event means no pair, especially those at the top, could afford to feel comfortable.
The husband-and-wife duo bowed out in the third round of the World Championships in Paris to compatriots Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin last Wednesday.
Soon Huat-Shevon were tipped to advance to the quarter-finals, as they came in ranked world No. 6 compared to Pang Ron-Su Yin’s No. 16.
The higher-seeded pair also held the edge, having beaten the Malaysian duo in the quarter-finals of the Arctic Open last October.
But the outcome was different this time, as Pang Ron-Su Yin rose to the occasion to claim a 13-21, 23-21, 21-17 victory and move into the next round.
The defeat was a stark reminder for Soon Huat-Shevon not to take their standing for granted.
“Right now, it’s not easy to stay consistent because there are so many tournaments and the competition is very open.
“There are no weak or strong players anymore, everyone can challenge,” said Shevon.
“Mixed doubles has become a more balanced and even field.
“In the past, the gap was clear and the higher-ranked pairs were usually much stronger.
“But now, anyone can pose a threat.
Soon Huat-Shevon themselves had climbed as high as world No. 3 earlier this year, but have since gradually slipped down the rankings.
Besides them, several other mixed doubles pairs have also fallen victim in this tournament, including world No. 1 duo Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping, who were sent packing in the second round by Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje.
