
Goh Soon Huat (left) and Shevon Jemie Lai (Bernama pic) will face Rinov Rivaldy and Pitha Haningtyas Mentari in the Malaysia Masters title showdown tomorrow. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: National professional mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai stormed into the final of the Malaysia Masters 2024 badminton championships and admitted that winning the title tomorrow would be their best wedding present.
The world No 18 pair, who tied the knot on May 4, disposed of teammates Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei 21-11, 21-19 in the semifinals at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil today to set up a title showdown against Indonesians Rinov Rivaldy-Pitha Haningtyas Mentari in the Super 500 championships.
Shevon attributed their win today to keeping their emotions in check during crucial points and the experience they have gained since being paired up in 2016.
“Today, we controlled our emotions well but tomorrow, against the Indonesians, will be another day, although we have a good record against them.”
“…and (if we win), the title will be a priceless wedding gift for us because last week we crashed out in the first round of the Thailand Open. So, being here on home ground and winning the title at the Axiata Arena will be sweeter,” said Shevon, who is looking forward to playing in the first final in Malaysia with her husband.
For the record, Soon Huat-Shevon have defeated the Indonesians five times, in the 2018 Singapore Open, 2019 Fuzhou Open in China, 2019 Singapore Open, 2023 Badminton Asia Championships in Dubai, and 2023 Hong Kong Open.
Meanwhile, 27 students, including 18 from the Badminton Talent Development Programme (BTDP), a joint venture between the ministry of education and Perodua, were present to support the Malaysian shuttlers in action at the 2024 Malaysia Masters.
The BTDP, introduced in 2018, aims to unearth talents among primary school pupils and groom them to become national players.
The programme’s 140 coaches train 2,800 primary school pupils at 70 badminton development centres nationwide.