KUALA LUMPUR: Lai Pei Jing is known more as a mixed doubles player and seldom gets involved in the women's doubles.
But when she does, the 29-year-old will spare no effort to ensure she excels in it too.
Pei Jing, who is also teaming up with Cheah Yee See for the women's doubles at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, stands a good chance to win a medal if they upset world No 14 Lauren Smith-Chloe Birch of England at the National Exhibition Centre tomorrow.
Pei Jing-Yee See easily cleared the first round, beating Sabrina Scott-Tamisha Williams of Barbados 21-5, 21-6 on Wednesday.
Lauren-Chloe are certainly the pair to beat in the bottom half of the women's doubles draw as they are the second seeds. Eliminating them will also brighten the prospects of having two Malaysian pairs in the final with Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah looking set to cruise to the final from the upper half.
In her debut at the Glasgow Games in 2014, Pei Jing also featured in the women's doubles with Lim Yin Loo but fell short in their podium bid after losing to Gabrielle Adcock and Lauren in the bronze playoff.
Pei Jing also cleared the opening hurdle in the mixed doubles with Kian Meng with ease, whipping Tajraj Pultoo-Ganesha Mungrah of Mauritius 21-5, 21-8. The top seeds should oust Lin Ying Xiang-Gronya Somerville of Australia to advance into the last eight.
In the women's singles, Goh Jin Wei opened accounts by beating Cindy Tornyenyor of Ghana 21-3, 21-1.