Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Singapore sends 4 shuttlers to London Games

Singapore is sending four shuttlers -- two singles players and a doubles pair -- to the 2012 London Olympics.

The women's doubles pair of Yao Lei and Shinta Mulia Sari is expected to make it to the quarter-finals, despite the trip being their first Olympic outing.

The duo's impressive performance at the recently-concluded Li Ning Singapore Open has boosted their confidence, and their coach is hopeful that they can reach the quarter-finals.

Yao Lei and Shinta Mulia Sari are currently ranked 12th in the world.

"I feel that we are hoping for a medal and actually they've given us a very good role model so we have to put in our best," Yao said.

"We now need to take care of our condition and our game. I feel that the preparations are on track, we are ready," Sari said.

Another Olympic debutant, women's singles player Gu Juan, also wants to return home with a medal.

The only male player in the squad, Derek Wong, has a more modest target.

"I am expecting to do the best I can for every round and hopefully make the top 16 for the Olympic Games," he said.

Wong is hoping his 2012 experience would help him make a bigger impact at the 2016 Olympics.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Singapore's women's doubles pair of Jiang Yanmei and Li Yujia, went all the way to the quarter-finals.

That may be inspiration enough for Shinta Mulia Sari and Yao Lei to go one better, or even surpass expectations -- and come home with a medal.

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