Eei Hui hopes to make the semis in last world championships outing
Top News 4:01 PM
NATIONAL woman doubles shuttler Chin Eei Hui has competed in five World Championships but has no fond memories of the tournaments.
This is something she intends to rectify, especially since it will be her last world meet with best friend Wong Pei Tty.
And all she wants, to make it a memorable outing, is for them to clear the quarter-final stage for the first time.
The World Championships will begin at Wembley on Monday.
Hard at work: Chin Eei Hui (right) keeping a close watch on doubles partner Wong Pei Tty going through a weight lifting exercise at their training camp in Bath. The Malaysian team left for Wembley from Bath yesterday for the World Championships.
“I did not start well in England but I want it to end well here. This should be my last world meet,” said the 29-year-old Eei Hui.
Eei Hui made her debut with Pei Tty at the world meet in Birmingham, England, in 2003, crashing out in the first round.
They reached the quarter-finals in Anaheim (2005), Madrid (2006) and Kuala Lumpur (2007) and lost in the third round in Hyderabad (2009).
“It will be a bonus if Pei Tty and I can win a medal. We have come so far and gone through many hardships together. It will be great to end our journey in the World Championships in a memorable way,” she said.
Eei Hui will continue to partner Pei Tty after the world meet in a bid to qualify for next year’s London Olympic Games, after which she intends to hang up her racquets.
Eei Hui admitted that her last world meet outing would be no stroll in the park.
“It seems to be getting harder every time. We have a challenging draw and it will be tough right from the first round,” said Eei Hui.
The Malaysians have been drawn against local stars Jenny Wallwork-Gabrille White of England in the opening round and a possible second round clash against fourth seeds Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa of Japan.
The other seeded players standing in their way to the last four are 10th seeds Valeri Sorokina-Nina Vislova of Russia, fifth seeds Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei of China and 14th seeds Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark.
“Hopefully, Pei Tty and I will be in good condition to give our opponents a good fight. I am happy with Pei Tty’s strong determination on court. She is an encouragement to me.”
Pei Tty-Eei Hui had to skip last year’s world meet because of Pei Tty’s knee injury. It kept her out for eight months before she slowly made her way back to a reasonably good form.
Since playing together in 2002, the duo have given Malaysian women’s doubles department a huge boost by winning several titles – the Super Series Masters Finals in 2008 and 2009, Indonesia Open (2009), Denmark Open (2008), Melbourne Commonwealth Games gold medal (2006) and SEA Games gold medal (2005).
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 4:01 PM.
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