George Town – Mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying might not have won gold but this has not stopped Malaysians from going all out to give their support to the pair as they struggled against their Indonesian adversary.
Despite the late hour, crowds surged on to various places to watch the blow by blow wielded by the Malaysian pair as they went up -and failed – against their Indonesian adversary.
Chan’s family – his mother, Loo Leng Hua, 53, younger sister Chan Lay Cheng, 26, younger brother Chan Peng Keat, 25, – were among the hundreds who turned at the Gurney Paragon Mall to watch the game.
Loo said she was still very proud of her son despite him only landing a silver, pointing out the the hard work that he had put in.
“He performed very well and to us, he is a champion,” she said.
On the other side of town in Jalan Thean Teik, Air Itam, Chan’s father, Chee Kong, 57, had his eyes fixed on the television screen at a coffeeshop as his son fended off the Indonesian and was even seen shaking his head briefly.
“I’m very proud and happy for my son. It was a great performance,” he told reporters, adding that he would bring his son for prayers as thanksgiving for his achievement.
Love match: Chan’s father Chee Kong (left) with strong support clapping with pride as he watches the live telecast of the finals match.
In Malacca, Goh’s father, Goh Chak Whee, 60, who watched the game at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Seri Bendahara, said his daughter was still a “heroine for Malaysia”.
“My heart was full of pride and patriotism when I heard the Negaraku when she received her medal with her partner,” he said.
Ardent badminton fan, businessman Mohd Shahrel Harun, 30, who watched with his friends, said he was sad that Malaysia did not take home the gold but was still proud of the pair’s dedication.
“We still took home a silver which is a big deal. We have never been this far before, it is a great feat for us Malaysians, especially us Penangites,”he said.
Another enthusiastic fan Koay Tiang Yong, 29, said the silver win was “awesome”, calling it a “proud moment for our country”.
“It is also nice to see so many people of different races come together to watch the match,” he said.
AFP, Reuters, The Straits Times
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In Putrajaya, a huge crowd, some carrying the Malaysian flags, turned up at Dataran Putrajaya to cheer on the Malaysians, some arriving as early as 7pm to watch Datuk Lee Chong Wei battle and win the quarter-finals.
“Not our luck. But we still have hope from Chong Wei and our Men’s Doubles for the gold medal. I’m not too disappointed as I think the mixed doubles did well to get the silver medal,” said Zulkifli Awang Ya, 50.
Fadhlan Fadli, 18, said he was proud of the pair, adding that Malaysia had done well.
