KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 — National women’s doubles shuttler Teoh Mei Xing is both excited and determined to prove a point after being handed a tough draw against world number two Baek Ha Na – Lee So Hee in the opening round of the 2024 Malaysia Open, next month.
The South Korean pair is on a good run this year, having won silver medals in the Asian Games and the season-ending World Tour Finals, both in Hangzhou, China.
Baek – Lee also showed great consistency when they advanced to the nine finals in the World Tour in 2023, including the Malaysia Open in January, though they only managed to claim the title thrice, namely the Indonesia Open, the Malaysia Masters, and the German Open.
However, Teoh, 26, is optimistic about posing a great challenge to the South Koreans as she and her partner Anna Cheong Ching Yik, ranked 64th in the world, are preparing rigorously for the season opener from January 9 to January 14 at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil.
“It is a very tough draw, but we do not want to worry too much. We hope we can upset them, but we need to do our part (preparations) first to play well because they are very strong.
“We must be prepared to play long rally, then avoid mistakes and unforced errors. This will be our first time playing against them, so we want to take the experience and learn from them too,” she said during the training session at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) today.
Teoh also stressed the need to work on the compatibility with Cheong, especially on the speed and rhythm, after the latter missed most of the 2023 season since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture on her right leg in October last year.
In Cheong’s absence, she built a temporary partnership with Go Pei Kee while continuing to play in the mixed doubles with Hoo Pang Ron.
Now that the national coaches have decided Teoh will only play in the women’s doubles, she hopes to have increased focus and return to the top 20 in the world ranking after having been ranked 17th at the beginning of the year.
“A bit regretful that I did not do well in the mixed doubles for the last few months, but now I have to accept the decision. I had learned a few things like braveness and taking many shots in the front; I hope I can use it for advantage in the women’s doubles category,” she said.
With Hoo, she won the Maldives International title and advanced to finals in the Iran Fajr International while finishing second in the Iran meet with Go in women’s doubles.
— Bernama
