KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic dream is still very much alive for independent men's doubles duo Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi.
Despite a rough season last year, mainly due to Ee Yi's nagging knee injury, the world No. 12 pair are committed to fighting and not giving up until the end of the one-year qualifying period in April.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi assured Malaysia of a second men's doubles pair in the quarter-finals of the Petronas Malaysia Open yesterday when they stunned world No. 5 duo Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark 21-10, 11-21, 24-22.
The scenes at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil were electrifying as Yew Sin-Ee Yi clawed back from five points down in the deciding game, eventually securing the tie on their fifth match point.
"We controlled the first game very well, but the Danes came back strongly in the second and third, playing very well in the front court.
"We had to make changes, and I'm really glad it worked in our favour," said Yew Sin.
Ee Yi admitted that the results this week have been a huge boost to his confidence as he and Yew Sin gear up for a late surge in the qualifiers.
"It's not over until it's over, and we won't give up.
"The results since Tuesday (first round) have been a huge boost to my confidence, especially since I only just recovered from my nagging knee injury.
"We will continue to fight hard until the end of the qualifying period and not give up. Nothing is impossible," added Ee Yi.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi, currently ranked No. 11 on the Race to Paris standings, must move three spots up to book their Olympic berth.
For the doubles event, a country is allowed a maximum of two pairs if they are in the top eight bracket at the end of the qualifying period.
At the moment, former world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are the only Malaysian pair that have pretty much secured their place in the Olympics. They are ranked No. 4 in the world and on the Race to Paris standings.