There were some stuttering moments but after picking up their second win in as many matches, the scratch pair of Vivian Hoo-Tee Jing Yi feel that they are will get things sync soon enough.
The new dynamic duo served a surprise when they stole a point in Malaysia’s 3-2 loss to Thailand in Group Y of the E-Plus Badminton Asia Team Championships here in Alor Setar.
The Malaysia duo had chalked up their first win together yesterday when they beat Philippines’ Airah Mae Nicole Albo-Alyssa Yasbel Leonardo.
“I felt excited to be playing as a doubles player for a change. We were the underdogs and a scratch pair so the pressure was mainly on the Thais. We played our best and got our rhythm to win the point for Malaysia,” said Jing Yi, who turns 27-years-old today
“I think at the start, our partnership was not that smooth. We feel pressured but at the end I think we did well. We are getting there (as a team).”
Formed only a couple of days ago following the injury to Woon Khe Wei (in the team’s first match against Vietnam), the pair was hoping for a win over Thailand today so to give them an easier passage in the quarter-finals.
But it was not to be.
The loss to first singles Soniia Chia prodded Vivian and Jing Yi into action and they duly delivered the win to put the game on level when they overcame Thailand’s Chayanit Chaladchalam-Phataimas Muenwong 21-19, 16-21 and 21-15.
But while Vivian and Jing Yi were on a high after their game, the Malaysian girls went on to lose the next singles through Goh Jing Wei, who fell to Pornpawee Chochuwong 19-21, 17-21.
With the score at 2-1 to Thailand, the pair of Chow Mei Kuan-Go Yea Ching were all action as they drew level beating Puttita Supajirakul-Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21-15, 21-15.
Down to the final singles of the day, Lim Yin Fun gave it her all in the game against Busanan Ongbamrungphan but it was not to be when she lost 21-23, 20-22. – BY ALVIN OH
