Mixed pair crash, Chong Wei to take off

JULY 29: Touted as possible medal winners, the London Olympics campaign of mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Yiu Ling came to a crushing end after they were beaten 21-14, 21-8 by China's Xu Chen-Ma Jin at London's Wembley Arena on Sunday,

Although Peng Soon-Liu Ying have one more match to play, it is purely academic as they lost their opening match to Taiwan's Chen Hung Ling-Cheng Wen Hsing on Saturday.

Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying's London Olympics campaign is over.

The Malaysians were given a glimmer of hope when the Taiwanese were beaten by Thailand's Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam earlier on Sunday but failed to take advantage.

Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong have impressed in their first two London Olympics matches.

Their defeat came after Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong raised Malaysian hopes with an emphatic 21-12, 21-14 win over Americans Howard Bach-Tony Gunawan, a result which sealed their quarter-final berth.

Making his London Olympic debut on Monday (early Tuesday in Malaysia) will be Lee Chong Wei, the nation's best medal hope.

Lee Chong Wei will be hoping to shed tears of joy at the end of the London Olympics.

All eyes will be on Chong Wei as he makes his first competitive appearance - against Ville Lang of Finland - since the ankle injury which he suffered in the Thomas Cup finals in May.

Also in action early Tuesday morning will be women's singles Tee Jing Yi, who plays Italian Agnese Allegrini.

Jing Yi, who impressed with a fighting performance against South Korea's Bae Yeon Jo, is aiming for a victory - the target she set herself prior to the Games.

Other Malaysians in action on Monday are archer Haziq Kamaruddin, who takes on Denis Gankin of Kazakhstan in the first round while sailor Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy opens his Laser account with Race 1 & 2.


MALAYSIANS IN ACTION ON MONDAY, JULY 30

ARCHERY
Haziq Kamaruddin v Denis Gankin (Kaz)
Men's individual, elimination
(5.15pm)

BADMINTON
Lee Chong Wei v Ville Lang (Fin)
Men’s singles, group stage
(Tuesday, 3.15am)

Tee Jing Yi v Agnese Allegrini (Ita)
Women's singles, group stage
(Tuesday, 3.50am)

SAILING
Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy
Men's laser, Races 1 & 2
(7pm)

(In Malaysian time)


- NST