Asian Games 2018: Malaysian doubles specialist Peng Soon to join the hustle

The team event at the Asian Games has bestowed a better opportunity to many players. Malaysian ace shuttler, Chan Peng Soon is in the saddle to join the Men’s Doubles team.

Peng Soon is among the six doubles shuttlers in the squad of 10 participants. Other established pairs are; Goh-V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Tee Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin and Goh Soon Huat, who is a specialist in the mixed doubles.

In the Asiad, from each gender, only 10 shuttlers can register themselves and so there is no entry for any third doubles combo for men. There is a high chance of Peng Soon or Soon Huat to stay as a standby player.

Peng Soon is excited to be a part of the team and seeking for a good opportunity to trot out his talent. As cited on the Star Online, Peng Soon said, “Being part of the team, obviously I’m ready to be fielded. I used to play in the men’s doubles, so it shouldn’t be hard to adapt. Among the four (men’s doubles pairs) I have partnered with Wee Kiong previously. In fact, in Incheon four years ago, it was the team event that earned me my first Asian Games medal. Our team won the bronze, but I didn’t play in any of the matches. The Asian Games team event is played in a knockout style format, so, it’s a do or die for every match. It’s unlikely the coaches will split the two top pairs and form scratch pairings. But should there be any need, I’m good to go.”

The primary target of the doubles shuttler is to conquer a medal in the respective games. In the previous tournaments, his voyage halted after his defeat in the inaugural rounds only. Peng Soon played his debut match in 2010 at Guangzhou with Goh-Liu Ying, where the duo lost to the South Korean, gold medallist combo; Shin Baek-Cheol and Lee Hyo-Jung.

In the Asiad at Incheon, Peng Soon joined Ng Hui Lin and went down to Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Vanessa Neo of Singapore.

Peng told, “Hopefully third time’s the charm. My previous two outings have never been pleasant, so I really hope to nail it this time. Asian Games medal is the most prestigious honour to have in badminton as it’s held only once in four years. And having failed to win a World Championships medal in Nanjing recently, I told Liu Ying let’s not miss another chance.”