KUALA LUMPUR — For independent players, securing substantial prize money can make a significant difference in planning for future tournaments.
Malaysia’s independent mixed doubles duo, Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai, highlighted this after earning over RM220,000 by reaching the semi-finals of the US$2.5 million (RM11 million) World Tour Finals.
The pair defeated Indonesia’s Dejan Ferdinansyah and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja 17-21, 21-15, 21-14 in their final Group B match at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre.
With one loss (to Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei) and two wins, world number 10 Soon Huat and Shevon finished second in the group.
This marks their second semi-final appearance in the prestigious season-ending tournament, after the 2020 edition in Bangkok.
“This is our second semi-final appearance, and we’re definitely very happy because we didn’t have high expectations coming into the tournament. Most of the pairs are in excellent form,” Shevon said in an interview with Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“We didn’t have the best start, so reaching the semi-finals again means a lot to us.”
As independent players, life can be challenging without the financial support provided to those under national programmes. Soon Huat and Shevon hope their success will inspire more professional athletes to believe in themselves and their hard work.
The winners of the doubles event will take home around RM1 million, while the runners-up stand to earn nearly RM500,000.
“The prize money is a huge boost for us. Independent players have to find their own funding, so securing a large prize pool will give us more opportunities to compete in higher-tier tournaments next year without worrying too much (about finances),” said Shevon.
“We also want to show other independent athletes back home that it’s possible to achieve success.”
Shevon, in a lighter moment, joked about plans for a second honeymoon with her husband and partner, Soon Huat, after they eventually retire.
“We’re still focused on playing, so that will have to wait. But I’m holding him to it!” she laughed.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s top mixed doubles pair, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, topped Group B with a dominant 21-17, 21-18 win over Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Natsu Saito.
With three victories from three matches, the world number eight duo will be aiming to reach the final for the first time.
Other Malaysians advancing to the semi-finals include two-time Olympic bronze medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, and 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia.
In the men’s doubles, Aaron and Wooi Yik booked their spot in the last four after defeating Indonesia’s former world number ones, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto, 19-21, 21-14, 21-15 in their second Group B match.
They will face another Indonesian pair, Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, today.
In the men’s singles, Zii Jia overcame his good friend, Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, 21-14, 21-19 in his second Group A match to secure a semi-final berth.
This marks his first semi-final appearance since the 2021 edition in Bali.
Zii Jia, who faced controversy earlier in the week for wearing a jersey with an upside-down Jalur Gemilang emblem, will take on China’s late replacement, Li Shi Feng, in his final group match today. – December 13, 2024