PETALING JAYA: After weeks of non-stop competition, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (pic) are keeping their expectations in check at the Denmark Open, with staying healthy and avoiding injuries their main priority.
Soon Huat-Shevon admitted they have had little time to rest since the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games last month, but are not using the packed schedule as an excuse as most players, especially those from Asia, are facing the same situation.
They cleared their opening hurdle yesterday after beating Americans Chen Zhi Yi-Francesca Corbett 21-15, 21-13 at the SJF Bank Arena in Odense.
“Definitely, no injuries for us. Every tournament that we finish without any injuries or accidents, that is something we are very grateful for,” said Shevon in a post-match interview with BWF.
“For this tournament, we just want to play good badminton.
“Winning or losing, finishing early or late, I think that is secondary for us now. We just want to enjoy ourselves and play well, and that is enough for us.’’
The win over Zhi Yi-Corbett was a timely boost for the husband-and-wife pair after they suffered a first round exit at last week’s Arctic Open to England’s Samuel Jones-Lizzie Tolman.
They had also endured disappointment at the Asian Games, where their medal hopes ended in the second round after losing to India’s Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto.
Soon Huat-Shevon will next face world No. 3 Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje in the second round.
The Malaysians, currently ranked world No. 10, have beaten the Danish pair twice before, although they last met two years ago in the Swiss Open quarter-finals.
