4 Mar 2014
Malaysian sisters to compete in the All England Badminton Championships
Loughborough University students Hui Lin Ng and Hui Ern Ng are set to play in the women’s doubles event this week at the prestigious Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham.
The sisters, who are studying Business, Economics and Finance at the University, will be looking to improve on their world ranking and impress the Malaysian selectors ahead of the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games to be held later this year.
Under the tutelage of Loughborough Badminton’s head coach, Mike Adams, Lin and Ern have gone from number 34 to reach an all-time high ranking of number 20 following consecutive final appearances in three world class events at the end of 2013.
Speaking ahead of the All England Badminton Championships, Hui Lin Ng said:
“We have got a tough first round. We are playing a Japanese pair seeded number 3. We have beaten them once, but also lost two or three times. So hopefully we can turn the tables on them this time.”
If they can beat the Japanese pair there is a possibility of an all-Malaysian match in the second round, where the sisters could play Vivian Kah Mun Hoo and Khe Wei Woon, who are currently ranked 16 in the world.
This match would be a significant marker for the major Games coming up later in the year, which Lin is keen to be selected for:
“The coaches want me to play. But I constantly have to be on my toes and be at the top of my game, or they are going to pick someone else. But I’m hoping to play all of the major events this year including the Commonwealths and the Asian Games.
“There is one (Malysian) pair ahead of us now, and there are other doubles players out there, so selection is going to be very competitive.”
Now in the final year of their degrees, the sisters have been able to combine studying alongside developing as international badminton players. Hui Ern Ng says:
“When I look back I’m glad that I have studied. Loughborough’s Business School is well known and I wanted to do a good course.
We want to do well in badminton, but at the same time we don’t want to neglect our studies. So support like funding, having a mentor, and being able to take exams early - so we could play in a major tournament - has all been really good.”
The sisters will be joined in Birmingham by fellow Loughborough Badminton players Peter Briggs and Harley Towler, who will be hoping to qualify for the main draw in the men’s doubles event.
Reflecting on the Ng sisters’ time at the University, Loughborough Badminton’s head coach, Mike Adams said:
“I’m incredibly proud of their achievements. To put it into context, we have two players who came from the third best badminton nation in the world playing at their national performance centre, who have come to Loughborough and climbed up the world rankings.
“Not only have they achieved the ranking of number 20 in the world, but they are also both on course for excellent degree results. It’s an unbelievable testament to them and also how Loughborough as a University can support academic study and elite sport.”
The Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships is one of the oldest and most prestigious open badminton tournaments in the world. It is only one of five events to be listed as a Badminton World Federation Superseries Premier event.