PETALING JAYA: Confidence, which had seemed lost, is slowly returning to mixed doubles shuttler Cheng Su Yin.
That was one of the positives noticed by national mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto during her outing with partner Hoo Pang Ron at the World Championships in Paris last week, and he hopes it will continue at the Hong Kong Open next week.
Pang Ron-Su Yin have struggled for form throughout this year after finishing runners-up at the China Masters last November, with Su Yin’s lack of self-belief in particular affecting their performances on court.
But the pair showed signs of recovery in Paris when they stunned compatriots and sixth seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie to reach the quarter-finals.
They even came close to winning a medal but were denied by China’s Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin in the last eight.
“I saw Pang Ron-Su Yin at the World Championships last week, and although they are not yet at their best, their self-belief, especially Su Yin’s, has returned,” said Nova.
“In several tournaments before this, she looked like she was lacking confidence or maybe felt burdened. Previously, when there was no pressure, they could play well and reach the final, but after that their form dropped.
“In Paris, their game showed improvement, and I believe they can continue to get better in the upcoming tournaments.”
Pang Ron-Su Yin could meet Soon Huat-Shevon again at the Hong Kong Open starting next Tuesday, but only if they clear their opening round hurdle against Ukraine’s Oleksii Titov-Yevheniia Kantemyr.
Soon Huat-Shevon, meanwhile, will face a qualifier, either Taiwan’s Lin Bing-wei-Lin Jhih-yun or Macao’s Leong Lok Chong-Ng Weng Chi.
“I have reminded Su Yin many times that she needs to go back to being her old self, enjoying every match on court,” Nova added.
“Maybe she feels she can do it, but sometimes when you are too excited and cannot control your emotions, it affects you.
“That is my observation.”
