Badminton: Pei Tty-Eei Hui must protect No. 1 spot to be top seeds in world meet

Posted by Lucas Liau Chin Eei Hui, News, Wong Pei Tty 8:20 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: National doubles pair Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui have a tall order ahead of them.

The duo are hoping to go into the history books as the first Malaysian women’s pair to be top seeded for the World Championships in Hyderabad, India, from Aug 10-16.

But for that to happen, they must still be ranked No. 1 in the world when the tournament comes along.

And the only way for them to safeguard their world No. 1 status is by doing well in the Sudirman Cup in Guangzhou (May 10-16) and Singapore Open (June 9-14).

Pei Tty admitted that it would be tough for them to hang on to the world No. 1 spot.

“It doesn’t matter whether we are ranked first or not at the world meet. But the fact remains that we may lose the status if we do not do well in the two coming tournaments,” said Pei Tty.

“There are several pairs just waiting to take over the number one spot from us.”

There are four pairs challenging for the top spot.

They are China’s Cheng Shu-Zhao Yunlei, Taiwan’s Cheng Wen-hsing-Chien Yu-chin, South Koreans Lee Hyo-jung-Lee Kyung-won and China’s Du Jing-Yu Yang.

Pei Tty’s partner Eei Hui, who is making a comeback after taking a one-month break to recover from a back injury, is racing against time to be fit for the Sudirman Cup.

The women shuttlers have a crucial role to play in Malaysia’s bid to justify their fourth seeding in the world mixed team event.

The Malaysian team have never finished better than sixth in Division One of the tournament.

But, for now, Pei Tty is only interested in seeing Eei Hui get back to top form.

“Eei Hui did well in training today and that is a good sign. We will have a better chance if both of us can play as a pair in the Sudirman Cup,” said Pei Tty.

There are three back-up shuttlers - Vivian Hoo, Woon Khe Wei and Ng Hui Lin - waiting in the wings to be paired up with Pei Tty should Eei Hui fail to get the nod.

Besides Eei Hui-Pei Tty, the others confirmed for the Sudirman Cup are Wong Mew Choo, Hui Lin and three men’s players – Lee Chong Wei, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

The coaches will name several others before the team leave for Guangzhou next week.