Winding down: Shuttlers (from left) Soh Wooi Yik, Lai Pei Jing, Goh Jin Wei and Lee Zii Jia celebrating Pei Jing’s 32nd birthday.
MIXED doubles shuttler Lai Pei Jing did not qualify for the Olympics but was cheering for her teammates from home. They just returned the favour.
Men’s singles bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia, doubles bronze medallists Soh Wooi Yik and women’s singles player Goh Jin Wei all joined in to celebrate her birthday with her.
Pei Jing turned 32 on Thursday and the trio came together to throw a party for her.
Zii Jia and Wooi Yik had only returned from Paris a day earlier while Jin Wei had returned earlier after going down fighting to South Korea’s Kim Ga-eun in the group stage.
The four shuttlers have been close friends for some time and often have holidays together when their hectic schedules allows.
Pei Jing posted a heartfelt message on their friendship and thanked everyone who supported them via social media.
“Happy blessed birthday to me. I guess having this wonderful relationship is one of my best gifts in my life,” said Pei Jing.
“Truly thanks to everyone out there who always supported us during our ups and downs.”
There have been some “downs” recently for Pei Jing. She lost most of her life savings – about RM400,000 – to scammers in June.
She did not dwell on her misfortune though and showed great fighting spirit to reach back-to-back semi-finals with Tan Kian Meng in the Indonesian and Australian Open.
Pei Jing also combined with Lim Chiew Sien in the women’s doubles and finished runners-up in the Australian tourney.
Pei Jing will next compete with Kian Meng in the Japan Open from Aug 20-25 along with Wooi Yik and his partner Aaron Chia, Zii Jia and Jin Wei.
