Pair of winners: Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee posing with their gold medals after beating Taiwan’s Yang Chu-yun-Nicole Chan in the Malaysia Super 100 final. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles shuttlers Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee are still in the dark about whether they will be allowed to continue as a pair despite winning their maiden title together in the Malaysia Super 100.
Mei Xing-Pei Kee, who were only combined permanently in June, toppled Taiwan’s top seeds Nicole Chan-Yang Chu-yun 22-20, 21-11 in the final at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
Both Mei Xing and Pei Kee shed tears of relief and joy after the win.
The pair had been on the verge of losing to independent duo Ng Qi Xuan-Yap Rui Chen in the last four on Saturday when they trailed 20-22, 18-20 but Qi Xuan suffered a serious knee injury and had to retire from the match.
Although Mei Xing-Pei Kee managed to take the opportunity given to them by going on to win the title, they are unsure if they will remain as a pair or even be retained by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
Both are under evaluation and waiting for their fate to be decided by a new women’s doubles head coach.
Mei Xing-Pei Kee struggled in all their individual tournaments since they were combined, losing in the early rounds in every outing before turning around their fortunes in the home tourney.
“We are so happy to win this title. We were lucky to reach the final and we did not want to waste this opportunity,” said Mei Xing.
“The supporters were amazing and we did not want to disappoint them.
“It has been a long time since we reached a final. We kept losing in the early rounds in all our tournaments before this, so this is a boost for our partnership.”
Pei Kee said: “We won but we are not sure if we will continue playing together after this.
“It depends on the new coach. All we can do is keep working hard in training and keep giving our best in training.”
While it was Pei Kee’s first World Tour Super 100 title, it was Mei Xing’s first title since she won the Super 300 Syed Modi International with former partner, Anna Cheong.
Meanwhile, it was double joy for the home fans when independent pair Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong clinched the men’s doubles crown.
World No. 52 Hang Yee-Eng Cheong finished runners-up in last year’s edition and made amends this time with a hard fought 19-21, 21-15, 21-12 victory over world No. 42 Americans Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith.
Eng Cheong was delighted to win his first title this year with Hang Yee.
“It feels great to win the title this time after coming close last year,” said Eng Cheong.
“This will give us a lot of confidence moving forward. We hope to build on this win.”
RESULTS
Final
Men’s singles: Chi Yu-jen (Tpe) bt Jason Teh (Sin) 21-12, 21-23, 21-15.
Men’s doubles: Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong (Mas) bt Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith (US) 19-21, 21-15, 21-12.
Women’s singles: Kaoru Sugiyama (Jpn) bt Manami Suizu (Jpn) 21-18, 21-14.
Women’s doubles: Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee (Mas) bt Nicole Chan-Yang Chu-yun (Tpe) 22-20, 21-11.
Mixed doubles: Ye Hong-wei-Nicole Chan (Tpe) bt Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara (Jpn) 21-19, 12-21, 22-20.
