Kian Meng-Pei Jing relish healthy competition for two spots in Asiad squad

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing are relishing a fierce battle with Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie for one of the two mixed doubles berths for the Asian Games in Jakarta from Aug 18-Sept 2.

World No. 11 Kian Meng-Pei Jing are the second-highest ranked pair in the country behind Soon HuatShevon (No. 7). Peng Soon-Liu Ying are third on No. 26.

But the ranking is just a number for these three pairs as they’re looking to outdo each other in several tournaments lined up over the next two months, starting with the Malaysian Open from June 25-July 1.

The other three events are the Indonesian Open (July 3-8), Thailand Open (July 10-15) and Singapore Open (July 17-22).

Kian Meng-Pei Jing, the two-time Grand Prix Gold winners, are desperate to impress as they failed to shine this year.

They were “grounded” after suffering their third first-round exit at the Asian Badminton Championships in Wuhan in late April. They also bowed out early from the German Open and the All-England in March.

Having skipped the Australian and the New Zealand Opens last month, Kian Meng said he and Pei Jing are raring to go again as they set their sights on an Asiad debut.

“I think it’s a good thing that the coaches pulled us out of the Australia and New Zealand Opens. It gives us ample time to prepare ourselves thoroughly for the Malaysian Open and the other tournaments,” said Kian Meng.

“We took advantage of the time we have to rectify our shortcomings. The next two months will be crucial and we need to start producing results. At the moment, I believe all of us have equal chances of making it to the Asian Games.

“In fact, I relish this healthy competition among us in the mixed doubles department as it brings the best out of us. May the best two pairs get picked for the Asiad.”

Mixed doubles head coach Pang Cheh Chang wants to see more of Kian Meng-Pei Jing in the coming tournaments.

“I want them to break through,” said Cheh Chang.

“Once you get into the world’s top 10, you’ve got to start displaying your top 10 quality by winning a big title.

“But they’ve not been able to do that yet and are stuck at that level for quite a while now.

“Kian Meng and Pei Jing are aware of that too. I can see that they have been pushing themselves really hard in training. Let’s see if they can translate these efforts into good results when they return to competitive action.”

Badminton, however, will have to take a back seat in the next few days for Kian Meng as he has flown to Singapore yesterday to visit his ill elder brother Tan Jiun Yong, 35, who has been diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer.

“I was told that my brother is critically ill and is now in the ICU. He has been battling the illness for quite some time.

“I’m taking a few days off to be with him,” he said.