KUALA LUMPUR – Despite women’s doubles player Vivian Hoo’s injury troubles a few weeks ago, she and her partner Lim Chiew Sien are gearing up to take on their opponents at the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Ningbo, China, next week.
Speaking to Scoop, Vivian expressed her determination to compete at the championships despite not being fully recovered from the injury.
“So far, I feel okay because I’ve had a slight injury for the last two weeks, so I’m still recovering, but not at 100%. I’ll just give my best,” she said.
The Malaysian pair will face a daunting challenge right out of the gate, going against South Korea’s Jeong Na-eun and Kim Hye-jeong in the first match.
Vivian acknowledges the strength of their opponents, recognising them as a significant obstacle.
Nevertheless, she remains steadfast in her determination to confront them head-on and overcome the challenges they present.
“Indeed, this Korean pair is consistently strong, and I feel we can only do our best.
“There’s no exact target, really. I feel what’s important now is that on the court, I give it my all and enjoy the match,” she added.
Meanwhile, coach Rosman Razak emphasised the importance of Vivian delivering her best performance to stand a chance in the first match.
“The Korean pair is indeed formidable. While I’m not saying that it would require a miracle to win, it will be an extremely challenging match for Vivian and Chiew Sien. Hopefully, Vivian will deliver her best performance,” he said.
For the record, the 38th-ranked Malaysians have faced the 12th-ranked Na-eun and Hye-jeong three times in the past, losing in all encounters.
Their most recent encounter was at the Thailand Open in 2023.
If Vivian-Chiew Sien advance past the first round, they will have another uphill battle against the seventh-ranked Chinese duo of Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu.
Another Malaysian pair competing at the BAC, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, also face a tough task as they are scheduled to compete against Japan’s eighth-ranked Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara. – April 4, 2024