PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles player Teoh Mei Xing (pic) is ready to step aside to allow younger players the opportunity to help the national team in the upcoming Uber Cup in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 -May 3.
The 29-year-old Mei Xing believes it would be better to give younger players the chance as she has already experienced competing in the world team event in three editions, beginning with the 2020 tournament in Aarhus, Denmark.
Across those three editions, Mei Xing partnered several players including Yap Ling, Anna Cheong, Valeree Siow and Go Pei Kee.
However, she and the women’s team have yet to guide Malaysia into the quarter-finals since the last time the country achieved the feat in the 2010 edition in Kuala Lumpur.
Mei Xing believes the younger players may now have what it takes to help end the long wait if they are given the opportunity.
“I think it is better to give the junior players a chance because they also need the experience. I have no problem staying here and continuing to train as usual.
“I am giving the opportunity to other players because I have already played in the Uber Cup. So I feel it is better for the junior players to take on this responsibility,” she said.
At the moment, Mei Xing’s status as the country’s No. 2 women’s doubles player appears uncertain following the departure of her former partner, Pei Kee, who announced her decision to leave the national squad last month.
Mei Xing has since been paired with youngster Tan Zhing Hui, while she is also competing in the mixed doubles with Tan Zhi Yang.
She admitted she is still in the process of adapting after falling short of the targets set for her in two tournaments in Singapore recently, where she had aimed to win the titles.
At the Singapore International Challenge, Mei Xing lost in the second round of the women’s doubles and exited early in the mixed doubles.
There was some improvement at last week’s Singapore International Series when she reached the semi-finals in the women’s doubles, while she and Zhi Yang advanced to the quarter-finals in the mixed doubles.
“I have not played mixed doubles for quite some time. I am disappointed that I could not win the title but I am still adapting. In smaller tournaments like these, I sometimes have to play two matches in one day and I am also competing in two events, so that means four matches in total.
“The intensity of the matches is still manageable but there is not enough time for rest and recovery. I think that is something that can be improved in the next few tournaments,” she added.
