This year’s Chinese New Year (CNY) holds special significance for Malaysian mixed doubles shuttler Shevon Lai Jemie. For the first time, she will celebrate the festive occasion with her husband and on-court partner, Goh Soon Huat, while also enjoying a long-awaited proper family gathering.
Reflecting on past years, Shevon shared her joy in finally having time to reunite with family after the hectic demands of professional badminton.
“I can’t remember how many years it’s been since we had a proper break. Last year, we had a short one, but it was during the Olympic qualifying period, so we couldn’t take many days off,” Shevon told Bernama.
“This year is a little bit more special because we finally get to have a proper CNY gathering with family. It’s exciting to go back and spend time with them.”
As per Chinese tradition, Shevon will celebrate this year’s festivities with Soon Huat’s family but was glad to have already spent a few days with her own family before the celebrations.
On their badminton journey, Shevon emphasized the importance of maintaining their physical condition as they strive to remain competitive on the world stage.
“Our main focus is staying injury-free and healthy. It’s challenging to maintain, but it’s a priority. We keep trying new strategies and pushing ourselves to improve,” she explained.
Looking ahead, Shevon expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships (BAMTC) from February 11 to 16 in Qingdao, China.
“We’re really excited for BAMTC. It’s always an exciting event to be part of, especially this year with younger players in the mix. It’s a different experience, and both of us are ready to embrace it,” she said.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
