Badminton

Joo Ven happy to be back in Malaysia Open

SOONG Joo Ven will make a welcome return to the Malaysia Open, which begins on Tuesday, after a six-year lapse to mark his only second appearance in the World Tour Super 750 tournament.

Instead of the men's singles, which is his forte event, the 27-year-old will play mixed doubles at the Axiata Arena.

Joo Ven will team up with Goh Liu Ying for their third consecutive start after the Indonesia Masters and Indonesia Open, in which they won one of their three matches.

The pair's only win was against Hafiz Faizal-Serena Kani in the first round of the Indonesia Open. Joo Ven-Liu Ying hope to do the same when they take on Jones Ralfy Jansen-Linda Efler of Germany in the opener this week.

"I am super excited to be playing in the Malaysia Open, albeit in mixed doubles this time. Who doesn't want to be part of the home Open?" said the world No 59.

"My last appearance in the tournament was in 2016 in Shah Alam, where I lost in the first round of qualifiers (men's singles).

"After the qualifying stage was discontinued, I could not make the limited 32-player cut in the years after. So, I'm really glad to be back and play alongside Liu Ying.

"This will be my time playing in the first round of the Malaysia Open."

Liu Ying will be making her 12th Malaysia Open appearance since 2008. The only time she did not play was in 2015 due to injury.

With former partner Chan Peng Soon, the duo came close twice to become the first local mixed doubles winners in the Open era (1983 onwards) after finishing runners-up in 2013 and 2016.

"Liu Ying and I are still trying to improve as a combination. I am trying to adapt to the mixed doubles game.

"The last time I played in this event was when I won the Malaysia Games bronze medal many years ago," said the 2012 Asian Junior runner-up.

"I join the doubles training with other professionals about three times a week. They are all very helpful.

"The biggest challenge I face is handling the shots. Usually, in singles, we have time to react. In doubles, everything is quicker — the drive and also the first three shots.

"But as a singles player, I think my court coverage ability comes in handy too, and I hope to turn it into my advantage."

Tan Kian Meng and Goh Soon Huat are some of the singles players who became successful mixed doubles shuttlers.

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