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Badminton can be unpredictable.
The relentless world tour and constant pressure often make finding the key to success feel like an elusive task. Yet sometimes, a single life event, a shift in mindset, or newfound hope can unexpectedly turn things around, just as easily as things went awry in the first place.
Just ask Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie. After two Olympic cycles of unmet dreams, bitter disappointments, doubts, and a drop in rankings, many might have given up. But with the support of each other and, as Lai mentions, possibly some divine intervention, the Malaysian mixed doubles pair found a way to rise again, a comeback few anticipated.
Since accepting that their Paris 2024 Olympic hopes were dashed, the newlywed pair has won the YONEX Swiss Open 2024 and the PERODUA Malaysia Masters 2024. Today, they achieved one of the most significant victories of their career by advancing to their first-ever Super 1000 final at the VICTOR China Open 2024.
Through to a maiden Super 1000 final, Lai was reflective, stating, “I am Christian, and one phrase I always keep in mind is, ‘When one door closes, another opens.’ We’ve never given up, and that’s what has kept us going.”
“We’re playing freely now, with less pressure, and enjoying the game more than ever,” Goh added.
This revitalized outlook has pushed them into the top three in the HSBC Race to Finals rankings. With today’s result, they are well-positioned for even greater success this season. Despite their recent triumphs, they assured the media that they have no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
Reflecting on their journey, Lai said, “It’s surreal. Three finals in a year—it’s an unbelievable achievement for us. I want to thank my partner for keeping us strong today.”
Lai added, “It’s been my dream to reach a Super 1000 final. I’m nearly in tears. We’ve been playing together for six or seven years, and I’ve always told Goh I wanted to reach a major final.
“Every match is one less in the future, so now we just want to enjoy every opportunity we get on court, as long as we stay healthy. But you’ll be seeing us around for a while yet.”
For Goh, the key is simple: “It’s all about mindset.”
“We played well at crucial moments today, staying calm, brave, and stable,” he said of their 21-18, 21-18 win.
“When we lose our mindset, we lose focus. So maintaining a stable mindset has been our key to success.”
In Sunday’s final, they will face the world No.3 pair, Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.
