Goh Liu Ying Urges Doubles Pairs to Stick Together—Because Badminton Breakups Are Worse Than Real Ones
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KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton legend Goh Liu Ying has weighed in on the ongoing struggles of doubles partnerships, suggesting that, unlike reality TV couples, they shouldn’t break up at the first sign of trouble.
Liu Ying, who spent over a decade paired with Chan Peng Soon (which, in badminton years, is basically a lifetime commitment), believes that working through adversity is what makes a partnership stronger. While she didn't name names, the badminton world is buzzing with speculation about Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, whose early All-England exit raised eyebrows—mostly because they also lost to the same Indonesian pair the previous week.
“One defeat isn’t the end of the world,” said Liu Ying, subtly reminding everyone that even legends have had off days. She emphasized the importance of teamwork, coaching support, and management accountability, because apparently, badminton pairs aren't just fighting their opponents—they're fighting scheduling, strategy, and each other.
Liu Ying, who once partnered Tang Jie and actually won a title with him (something to consider, Tang Jie), urged players to reset their mindset, while coaches and management should do their jobs instead of playing the blame game.
Her takeaway? A true champion doesn’t just smash shuttlecocks—they smash through adversity, too.