PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles player Hoo Pang Ron is set to leave the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after forming a new partnership with Lai Pei Jing for the Malaysian Masters.
The tournament will be held from May 19 to May 24. The Pang Ron-Pei Jing pair has already been listed in both the main and qualifying draws for the tournament.
Speculation over Pang Ron’s future in the national set-up had been ongoing even before he competed at the Asian Championships in Ningbo with Cheng Su Yin.
This followed a warning from head coach Nova Widianto for the pair to improve their performances or risk being split.
However, Pang Ron suffered an elbow injury during his first-round match against Kim Jae-hyeon and Jang Ha-jeong, forcing him to retire.
His departure from the national team will see Su Yin partnered with Jimmy Wong. Ironically, Jimmy was previously Pei Jing’s partner.
Jimmy had also fuelled speculation over a possible return to the national set-up after he and Pei Jing withdrew from the ongoing Asian Championships. He was previously part of the national team before being dropped in 2022.
Meanwhile, independent men's doubles player Ong Yew Sin is set to team up with Lwi Sheng Hao for the tournament after splitting with Teo Ee Yi. This follows Ee Yi's decision to partner Chia Wei Jie.
However, both new pairs will have to start from the qualifying rounds.
