PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttler Lim Chiew Sien is determined to make the most of her return to the World Championships after waiting two years for another opportunity to compete on the biggest stage.
Chiew Sien and partner Wong Tien Ci were handed a late entry into the New Delhi meet following the withdrawal of several pairs, including Indonesia’s world No. 13 Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu and world No. 24 Adnan Maulana-Indah Cahya Sari Jamil.
For Chiew Sien, it means a return to the World Championships for the first time since the 2023 edition in Copenhagen, where she competed in the women’s doubles with Vivian Hoo.
The call-up was also particularly satisfying after Chiew Sien-Tien Ci narrowly missed out on qualifying last year.
They were first on the reserve list for the Paris edition and had hoped for a late entry, but Israel’s Misha-Svetlana Zilberman remained in the competition.
This time, Chiew Sien-Tien Ci continued to train with the World Championships in mind while waiting to see if a place would become available.
“I think we did expect that there was a chance because the World Championships was one of our targets this year.
“Last year, we were first on the reserve list but unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to play.
“This year, we were on the reserve list again and finally got in, so I feel that our hard work has paid off.
“We didn’t think too much about whether we would qualify or not. We just kept preparing because the World Championships was one of our main targets.
“Even if we didn’t get in, we would still give our best in training every day,” said Chiew Sien.
At the same time, Chiew Sien is keen to use her experience to help Tien Ci, who will be making his World Championships debut in New Delhi.
Chiew Sien-Tien Ci will open their campaign today against Indonesia’s Rehan Naufal-Gloria Emanuelle in the first round.
“I don’t see it as me ‘carrying’ Tien Ci. We help each other because both of us are still relatively new to mixed doubles.
“Either of us can take the lead. Sometimes when I’m not playing well, he helps me, and I do the same for him.
“So we support each other. There is no question of who is carrying whom,” added Chiew Sien.
Chiew Sien-Tien Ci will begin their campaign against Indonesia’s Rehan Naufal-Gloria Emanuelle in the first round today.
The world No. 43 will join Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie in flying the Malaysian flag in the mixed doubles after defending champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei withdrew following Ee Wei’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
