When the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) named Peng Soon as the sixth doubles player for the Thomas Cup squad last week, the Malaysian team was excited about Peng Soon’s presence on the team.
“I am really excited to play in men’s doubles again. Men’s doubles give me more room to display my skills as the players are taking turns to rotate around court, while I usually control the back when I’m playing in the mixed doubles.
Peng Soon is currently partners with Goh Liu Ying in the mixed doubles. However, he used to be men’s doubles player partnered with Lim Khim Wah, where they won Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold title in 2009 by defeating Thomas Laybourn, Kamilla Rytter Juhl from Denmark 20–22, 21–14, 21–11.
“Of course, playing men’s doubles required different level of physical fitness, and I am totally physically and mentally well prepared,” Peng Soon said yesterday after training at Juara Stadium.
Peng Soon, who was training with former partner Lim Khim Wah, said he is considering pursuit men’s doubles again after Thomas Cup.
“If given the chance, I might want to give the men’s doubles a shot, since I don’t have a fixed partner in mixed doubles and men’s doubles,” said Peng Soon.
When reporter asked Goh V Shem about Peng Soon inclusion to the Thomas Cup team, he said:
“This will be Peng Soon’s first Thomas Cup, he has strong individual skills, and he works really hard.”
“The Thomas Cup is a team event. The coaches will design their strategies and to find the best combination for each tie,” V Shem added.
Malaysia is drawn into Group C alongside Germany, South Korea and India for the Thomas Cup. Other doubles players in the squad are Hoon Thien How, Tan Wee Kiong, Goh V Shem, Khim Wah and Tan Boon Heong.
