KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — With less than two weeks until the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the nerves and exhilaration must be at an all-time high for the national shuttlers to prepare for the pinnacle of their sporting careers.
This was because all of them except the 2022 men’s doubles world champions, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, can now map out their paths following yesterday’s draw result.
Despite the adrenaline-surging, three-time Olympic silver medallist Datuk Lee Chong Wei has a simple message for them: ‘Do not let the pressure get to you but focus on making the nation proud’.
Of all the draws, the national women’s doubles duo Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah were handed a tough one, finding themselves grouped with top seeds from China, Chen Qing Chen-Jia Yi Fan in Group D.
Accompanying the world number 13 duo in Group D are world number six, Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara of Japan, and Indonesia's world number nine, Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.
While the draw looks tricky for Pearly-Tan, Lee hopes both of them will perform their best and seize every moment in the court during their maiden Olympic appearance.
“Even though it was a tough draw, it cannot be changed anymore. Just enjoy the game and look after your health,” he told Bernama when contacted today.
The other draw results saw national men’s singles professional shuttler and seventh seed Lee Zii Jia facing an easy mission to clear the group stage after receiving a favourable draw in Group G with world number 63 Pablo Abian of Spain and world number 72 Viren Nettasinghe of Sri Lanka.
National women's singles professional shuttler Goh Jin Wei have been pitted against 12th seed Kim Ga Eun of South Korea and Johanita Scholtz of South Africa in Group H.
Only group champions of singles events advance to the round of 16.
There is better news for national mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei after they were drawn in Group D with second seeds Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping of China, Americans Vinson Chiu-Jennie Gai and Singapore's Terry Hee Yong Kai-Jessica Tan Wei Han.
The top two pairs in the group will qualify for the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, following a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing, the Badminton World Federation announced that it will conduct the men’s doubles draw on another date yet to be determined.
The Paris Olympic badminton competition will be held at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena from July 27 to August 5.
The 2024 Olympic Games will run from July 26 until August 11.
— Bernama
