KUALA LUMPUR – Independent mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing were unable to get Malaysia off to a good start after their opponents surprised them with a change in tactics during the first-round match of the Malaysia Open today.
The world number 25 pair faced off against the seventh-seeded South Korean pair, Kim Won-ho-Jeung Na-eun, at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil for their tournament opener.
They suffered straight sets defeat, 21-11, 21-16, in a match lasting 38 minutes.
Kian Meng was disappointed in the loss because they were leading the match before their opponents upped their game.
“When we were leading 11-6 in the second set, the South Koreans stepped up their game. We tried our best to overcome that, but we made too many simple mistakes.
“Despite the loss, we gave our best, and I hope to make a comeback next week.”
Pei Jing echoed her partner’s sentiments, admitting the pressure of playing at home got to her.
“They changed their game from when we last played them, and I was surprised by this, especially in the first game.
“We tried to adapt, but maybe because of the pressure, I couldn’t think clearly.”
Independent shuttlers like Kian Meng and Pei Jing heavily rely on sponsorships to fund their participation in tournaments worldwide.
But sponsors want to see results, and Pei Jing recognises this fact.
“As you can see, there are no logos on our shirt other than Victor.
“But we understand that our results from last year have not been the best. I believe if we have results, sponsors will come and approach us. That is why we are focused on our game.
“To attract new sponsors, we need to produce good results. If we always exit in the first round, sponsors won’t get the exposure they want. This is normal; there must be a win-win situation for all parties.”
Kian Meng and Pei Jing’s next assignment will be the India Open, scheduled to start next week. – January 9, 2023