Worry over mistakes led to Pei Tty-Eei Hui defeat

Friday, 14 August 2009

A MISUNDERSTANDING in the final game resulted in the sad exit of Malaysia’s world No. 1 Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty from the world championships women’s doubles competition yesterday.

The top seeds crashed to a 19-21, 21-19, 12-21 defeat by 2008 Olympic Games semi-finalists Miyuki Maeda-Satoko Suetsuna of Japan in a 65-minute third-round match.

It was the first time in the world series that Eei Hui-Pei Tty failed to reach the quarter-finals since they made their debut in the championships in Anaheim in 2005. And they dejectedly left the court at the Gachibowli Stadium, accompanied by the coaches, Rexy Mainaky and Chang Kim Wai.

A poker-faced Pei Tty expressed her disappointment for the failure to make it to at least the quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive time.

“Honestly, we knew it was a tough mission for us against them (Maeda-Suetsuna),” she said.
End of the road: Malaysia’s Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty leaving the court with coach Rexy Mainaky after losing to Japan’s Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna in the third round of the World Badminton Championships at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. — S.S.KANESAN / The Star

“We should have been more relaxed but we were tense and did not seem to enjoy the first game. We could not defend as well as we should. It rattled us and we made so many errors.”

The Japanese raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening game and kept the pressure on throughout to win it.

Eei Hui, who was struggling to get her act right in the first game, did better in the second game.

“I was making too many mistakes and fortunately, I was able to get a better grip of myself. And I think that turned the tide to our favour in the second game when we were trailing 15-19.”

It all seemed well and good for the Malaysians in the decider when they caught up from 7-10 to take a slim 11-10 lead. Then, everything fell to pieces.

Their aggression in the game was replaced with weak returns and poor judgment. And the Japanese gained in confidence to claim their place in the quarter-finals.

Pei Tty agreed that they were a letdown and the top ranked pair in the world.

“Whether we like it or not, we are still the world No. 1. Our problem is our inconsistency. We can play so well and beat a top pair and we can also play below par and lose to a lower ranked pair,” she said.

Rexy said that the duo would have to work on their communication skills, especially when things were not going their way.

“There is nothing wrong with their skills. In the decider, they were in control after taking a 11-10 lead. The Japanese broke their rhythm by slowing down the game,” he said.

“Instead of holding on together and playing their game, they were more worried over the mistakes made by each other. They have to learn to support each other in good or bad times.”

Courtesy of The Star