Bac Giang: World No. 29 mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie/Peck Yen Wei contributed the 38th gold for Malaysia at the 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sunday.
After dropping the first set to compatriots and World No. 23 Hoo Pang Ron/Cheah Yee See 15-21 in the first game, Chen/Peck came back to win the next two 21- 19, 21-13 to claim the only badminton gold medal for the Malaysian team in Hanoi.
2021 SEA Games mixed doubles final – Chen Tang Jie/Peck Yen Wei vs. Hoo Pang Ron/Cheah Yee See (third-set):
Despite winning the SEA Games gold, Chen/Peck would be split up upon returning to Malaysia following the reshuffle in the mixed doubles department at the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
Chen,24, will be paired with Valeree Siow, while Peck,26, will partner with Choong Hon Jian.
“Indeed we are happy with this result on our first appearance at the SEA Games and possibly the last pairing with Tang Jie. However, I think we have proven our ability, so maybe we could be paired up again in the future,” said Peck.
“I knew he was very tired just now because of a lot of smashes and attacks, so I always try to cover for him whenever I could. We just want the Jalur Gemilang to fly high and the Negaraku song to be sung abroad, that’s something which makes us proud,” added Peck.
As for Chen, he told reporters that playing against his teammates was the most difficult task because they know each other’s games so well.
“It’s really hard because we train, eat and live together, we are just like a family. Win or lose, we are really happy for each other,” said Chen.
In men’s singles, the reigning World Champion and World No. 10 Loh Kean Yew fell short of winning the badminton gold medal for Singapore when he went down to World No. 18 Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand 13-21, 13-21 in the final.
The all-Thailand women’s singles final saw No. 1 seed Pornpawee Chochuwong eased past useeded Phittayaporn Chaiwan 21-14, 21-16 to win her maiden SEA Games gold.
Meanwhile, Indonesia won two gold medals on Sunday through Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (women’s doubles), and Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin (men’s doubles).
Overall the Malaysia badminton team took home one gold (mixed doubles) two silver (mixed doubles, and men’s team), and one bronze (women’s doubles) in the 2021 SEA GAMES.
