# Mixed doubles pair reach final
# ‘Our mental strength played a part’ – Peng Soon
# Defending champions Zhang Nan-Yunlei defeated
By Rizal Abdullah
Malaysia’s No 1 mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying are in dreamland after storming into the final with a straight sets 21-12, 21-19 in 49 minutes at Riocentro Pavilion 4 in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.
This is the first time a Malaysian mixed doubles pair has reached the final in the event. The Malaysians will play Indonesian third seeds Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir for the gold medal.
“We are in dreamland. It is amazing feeling to be in the final,” said Peng Soon after the win over the world No 6 Chinese pair.
Tontowi-Liliyana had beaten the Malaysians in the group stage in Rio but that is a different story for both pairs as they battle for the gold medal.
“This is the final…and the feeling is amazing.”
Liu Ying was ecstatic with the win and said: “Reaching the final is something we dreamed of but to fight for the gold medal is something very, very, very happy occasion.
For China it was a double blow in Rio. At the London Olympics it was the “China Show” with the badminton powerhouse making a clean sweep of all the five gold medals at stake.
However, defending champions Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei, the top seeds in Rio were shown the exit by Tontowi-Liliyana with a 21-16, 21-15 win.
RESULTS
MIXED DOUBLES SEMI-FINALS
Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (Ina) beat Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) 21-16, 21-15
Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (Mas) beat Xu Chen-Ma Jin (Chn) 21-12, 21-19
