RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 17 — She was featured as one of Malay Mail Afternoon E-paper’s hotshots and Goh Liu Ying has certainly been heating up the courts in Rio with her on court partner Chan Peng Soon.
The mixed doubles pair has secured the nation’s second silver in the Rio Games and are now a step away from securing the elusive gold.
None of the Malaysian mixed doubles pairs had ever qualified beyond the quarterfinals in the Olympics.
The only Malaysian pairs to win medals in badminton were Razif and Jalani Sidek — men’s bronze in Barcelona 1992 — and Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock who reached the final four years later only to lose to Rexy Mainaky-Ricky Subagja.
“I’m excited beyond words. I’m really so happy,” Liu Ying said.
“I can’t believe it,” said the part-time model, who hails from Malacca.
“I struggled with injuries over the past three to four years and my partner has been patient. He has been helping me overcome my fears and now our understanding on the court has become better and better.”
The 27-year-old said in jest: “I’ve been the problem in this partnership. I’ve been holding him back with all my injuries.”
Asked if she was dreaming of gold, Liu Ying burst out laughing saying: “Slow down ... don’t want to think about it yet. The silver is guaranteed.”
“It’s been (a) difficult (journey) but the win makes it all worthwhile,” said Liu Ying who moved to Kuala Lumpur at 13 where she attends Bukit Jalil Sports School.
It’s a sweet route to the final as they crashed out in the group stage in their first Olympics in London four years ago.
Since then, Liu Ying underwent operations for both knees in May 2014 and the once world No 3 pair slid down the rankings, as low as No 281 on March 5 last year.
While recuperating from surgery, she enrolled in Amber Chia Academy and had been building her confidence in modelling. Her morale has been boosted as she returned to the court.
“Most girls dream to be a model and it was mine as well. My knee injury gave me an excuse to try something out of my comfort zone,” she said.
Peng Soon said it has been his dream of playing in the Olympics final.
“And I’ve finally achieved it. I can’t believe it but it’s really happening,” he said.
“They (Xu Chen-Ma Jin) were under pressure and we took advantage. I’m just so happy right now.”
Others back home are equally excited.
Deputy Communication Minister Datuk Jailani Johari said if any Malaysian athlete won the gold, Pos Malaysia would honour him or her by releasing special edition stamps.
Mobile virtual network operator XOX Bhd yesterday announced they would reward Peng Soon and Liu Ying RM100,000 if they clinched the nation’s first gold medal.
