Three pairs will battle among themselves for the two slots available for the Asian Games in Indonesia in August.
National mixed doubles head coach Pang Cheh Chang has been left with a tough task in picking the two pairs and decided that the pairs will be picked on merit after a series of Open tournaments starting with the USD700,000 Malaysian Open (June 26-July 1).
The three pairs also have the Blibli Indonesia Open (USD1,250.000) in Jakarta from July 3-8), the USD350,000 Thailand Open in Bangkok from July 10-15 and the Singapore Open (USD355,000) from July 17-22 in Singapore.
Interestingly, Rio Olympics silver medallists Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, currently ranked 26 in the world, are ranked below world No 7 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (world No 17).
To add spice Peng Soon-Liu Ying are only reserves for the World Championships in Nanjing, China in July while Soon Huat-Shevon and Kian Meng-Pei Jing are confirmed entries.
“I will see how things go in these tournaments. The three pairs will have battle it out among themselves…the battle will be keen and you can expect them to give their best to make the grade to the Asian Games,” Cheh Chang said. RIZAL ABDULLAH
