It is never easy to say goodbye to a sport you love so much, but Goh Liu Ying, the Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist, bade her farewell in front of a packed arena during the Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur in January.
The Malaysian decided the time was right to hang up her racket for good, after the major highs and lows of her career, due to injuries. Her biggest feat came when she made history alongside Chan Peng Soon in Brazil, collecting the first ever medal in mixed doubles for their nation at the Olympics. The 33-year-old, who competed at three Summer Games, rates it as the “most memorable moment of my career”.
Chan and Goh proudly posing with their silver medal in Rio.
Paired in 2008, Chan and Goh collected 13 titles in total and reached a career high ranking of world No.3 in November 2012. They were also consistently among the top 10 mixed pairs during their best years.
It was thus fitting Goh bowed out in style with Chan by her side. The pair split in December 2021, but reunited at the season opener only to fall at the first hurdle. But that’s not what mattered to Goh in her final competitive match.
“It meant a lot that so many fans had come to see me off, after what has been a fantastic career,” she said post her farewell ceremony at Axiata Arena that included parting messages from her old coaches and friends.
In this exclusive interview, Goh looks back on her career, Olympic journey, and of course, her special relationship with the driving force behind her success in badminton – her father and former Malaysian mixed doubles player Goh Chak Wee, 66.
WATCH the interview here.
BWF Newsletter
