PETALING JAYA: Tan Zhing Yi (pic) believes that her experience in the Uber Cup Finals last year will prove useful in the SEA Games from May 5-17 in Cambodia.
The national women’s singles shuttler is set to make her debut in the biennial Games and is keen to draw on the lessons learned in the prestigious team competition.
“I’m really excited to compete in my first SEA Games,” said Zhing Yi.
“I’m looking forward to playing in the team event after so long. I’m grateful to my coaches for giving me this opportunity.’’
World No. 110 Zhing Yi had memorably given Thailand’s world No. 13 Busanan Ongbamrungphan a tough fight in the first game before losing 19-21, 6-21 in a group match during the Uber Cup.
“It was really special to play in the Uber Cup and give a top player like Busanan a good fight,” she said.
“I believe that the valuable experience I gained in the tournament will be helpful for me in the Games.’’
On her target in the Games, the Penang-born lass said: “I just want to go all out, fight hard in every match and see where it takes me.”
The other women’s singles players selected for the Games are recent National Under-21 champion Siti Nurshuhaini Azman, Wong Ling Ching and Ong Xin Yee.
The 19-year-old Zhing Yi’s best performance this year came in the Uganda International Challenge last month where she reached the semi-finals before her run was halted by compatriot and eventual champion K. Letshanaa.
Zhing Yi, though, could not maintain her form and was eliminated in the early rounds in the Vietnam and Thailand International Challenges recently.
The youngster acknowledged that she had room for improvement before the biennial Games.
“I have a few aspects that I need to improve on, especially my fitness,” said Zhing Yi.
