One step away from making history

RIO DE JANEIRO: Malaysia is just one step away from an Olympic gold medal after Chan Peng Soon-Goh Yiu Ling qualified for the mixed doubles finals at the Rio Olympic Games here, Monday.

The shuttlers sparked off celebrations at Pavilion 4, Riocentro, when they packed off 2012 London Olympics silver pair, China's Chen Xu-Ma Jin 21-12, 21-19 in a 45-minute heart-stopping match.

The Malaysians, who were in captivating form, clinched an easy 21-12 win in the first set and it was expected the sixth world ranked pair would strike back in the second set and push the game to the decider.

However, Peng Soon-Liu Ying tightened their game plan and were leading 17-14 in the second set and the Chinese trailed until 20-19 before the Malaysians wrapped up the match in 21-19.

They will face Indonesia's Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir in Wednesday's final, a repeat of the group matches tie with the world number three who beat the Malaysians 21-15, 21-11 last Saturday.
"We still can't believe the result and also a place in the final. We had dreams about it but actually we have done it ... a great feeling," said Peng Soon after the match.

He said the Chinese were under more pressure compared to them and reminded themselves to keep focused and minimise mistakes.

Liu Ying said they do not want to fail after coming this far and the final will be another challenging round against the Indonesians who disposed off London Olympics gold medallists, Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei.

The Indonesians defeated the Chinese pair, ranked world number one, in 21-16, 21-15 in the other semifinal match.

However, Liu Ying said they have to prepare well and give the best in the final. — Bernama