PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttler Lai Pei Jing’s hard work and determination to reclaim her lost savings has paid off as she pocketed RM93,500 with good results in tournaments over the last two weeks.
After falling victim to a financial scam that saw Pei Jing lose most of her life savings, the 31-year-old Pei Jing kept her good run in the international tournament by finishing as the runners-up with Lim Chiew Sien in the Australian Open on Sunday to walk away with RM75,000.
Scratch pair Pei Jing-Chiew Sien lost 21-12, 7-21, 13-21 to world No. 18 Febriana Dwipuji-Amallia Cahaya of Indonesia in the women’s doubles final yesterday.
In the mixed doubles, Pei Jing and her regular partner Tan Kian Meng ended their run in the semi-finals on Saturday after losing to China’s Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin 11-21, 11-21, but took home RM27,000.
Combined with their semi-final finish at the Indonesian Open last week that saw them get RM85,000, Pei Jing has now won RM93,500 from the two tournaments.
Pei Jing said giving her heart and soul in tournaments is the only way for her to get back her savings.
“I have to try and make my money back, so I have to work hard on court and really focus on every single match,” she said.
Meanwhile, Pei Jing said her focus will remain in the mixed doubles event with Kian Meng, as partnership with Chiew Sien was only a one-off plan.
“For now I’m not considering moving to women’s doubles as I’m still focused on mixed doubles,” she said.
