Deafening cheers of crowd power Mei Xing and Pei Kee to crack China wall
Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee marched into the second round after ousting Olympic Games champion Chen Qingchen of China, who is currently partnering Wang Tingge, with a superb 21-19, 21-19 win in 53 minutes.
This wasn't Mei Xing-Pei Kee's first win over the Chinese pair, having also beaten them in February in the second round of the German Open.
Mei Xing was thrilled with the win.
'Since we had played them before at the German Open, we had higher expectations this time,' said Mei Xing.
'I think we started off well, but midway through we made some mistakes and got nervous. Fortunately, we managed to overcome it today.
Leaping to tall order: Teoh Mei Xing returning a shot as Go Pei Kee looks on in their duel against China's Chen Qingchen-Wang Tingge.
'We were still a bit nervous because she's an Olympic champion and a very experienced player. But we really appreciate the chance to play against her,' said Mei Xing, who appreciated the fans for their support.
Mei Xing-Pei Kee will next face another tough hurdle, Qingchen's regular partner Jia Yifan, who is currently teaming up with Zhang Shuxian.
The Chinese pair had earlier defeated another young Malaysian duo, Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting, 21-11, 17-21, 21-13 in a 77-minute first round battle.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Badminton fraternity keep their eyes open over Zafrul's vision for the sport
PETALING JAYA: With his 100th day as president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) just around the corner, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abd Aziz is set to present his vision and mission for the sport at the council meeting today. While expectations under Tengku Zafrul's leadership are for Malaysia to capture the Thomas Cup and an Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles, the badminton fraternity is keen to know the blueprint he has set for the sport since taking over as president on May 10. For deputy president Datuk V. Subramaniam, who is also Selangor Badminton Association president, Tengku Zafrul is a leader with vision and he believes whatever steps are taken will be in BAM's best interests. 'I'm happy working with him. The way he leads BAM and the approaches he has taken have been very good for the national body, and I can say he has his own clear vision,' said Subramaniam. Meanwhile Perlis Badminton Association (PsBA) president and BAM council member A'amar Hashim is also eager to hear Tengku Zafrul's presentation, as he feels it is important for all council members to have a shared goal and direction. 'Right now, we council members are still wondering and waiting to know the new direction Tengku Zafrul wants to take, and of course we are hoping for something better for Malaysian badminton,' said A'amar when contacted. He also believes that while it will be a challenge for Tengku Zafrul to surpass the contributions of former president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria, such comparisons should not be made. The reality, he said, is that Tengku Zafrul has the opportunity to build his own legacy, and Norza's work has paved the way for him to take BAM to greater heights. 'Tan Sri Norza's contributions were immense. You can see how hard he worked to establish the impressive academy in Bukit Kiara, as well as to attract sponsors to support BAM, along with other efforts that have become the foundation of the national team's current success. Now, Tengku Zafrul must ensure that success continues while at the same time bringing in fresh ideas, as he comes to BAM with a complete package,' he added. In the past three months, Tengku Zafrul has already taken proactive steps, including resolving the women's doubles contract dispute involving Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah before they competed in the Japan and China Opens in July. He has also sought to engage more closely with fans by producing short videos and posts on the national badminton squad, such as explaining the world ranking points system which some supporters may not have fully understood before.
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Wushu team shift gears to Brazil after strong China campaign
Impressive: Tan Cheong Min struck gold in the nanquan and nandao at the World Games. KUALA LUMPUR: The national wushu exponents will need to refocus for the World Championships in Brasilia, Brazil, from Sept 1-7 after their recent run of strong results. They excelled in two major competitions on Chinese soil in the past month – the Asia Taolu Cup in Jilin and the World Games in Chengdu – bringing home an impressive medal haul.
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Athletics-Start-up Grand Slam Track struggling to compensate athletes
FILE PHOTO: May 3, 2025; Miramar, FL, USA; A general overall aerial view of the Ansin Sports Complex, the site of the Grand Slam Track Miami. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images/File Photo NEW YORK (Reuters) -Grand Slam Track is struggling to compensate its athletes after pulling its final meet of the year in Los Angeles, CEO Michael Johnson said on Friday, adding that the start-up did not receive funding that had been committed to it. The track circuit lured in top talent with promises of massive paydays in its debut year but was forced to cancel the fourth and final meet on the calendar after trimming back another event in Philadelphia from three to two days. Last month, Front Office Sports reported that Grand Slam Track owed around $13 million to athletes who had participated. "It is incredibly difficult to live with the reality that you've built something bigger than yourself while simultaneously feeling like you've let down the very people you set out to help," Johnson said in a statement. "We promised that athletes would be fairly and quickly compensated. Yet, here we are struggling with our ability to compensate them." The four-time Olympic gold medallist said the start-up was unable to meet dated payment timelines after it did not receive funding committed to it: "We saw circumstances change in ways beyond our control." Despite this, Johnson said Grand Slam Track has no plans to shut down and would move forward with a 2026 season after its athletes have been paid. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
