KUALA LUMPUR, AUG 18: National mixed doubles pair, Goh Liu Ying and Chan Peng Soon, won the silver for Malaysia after losing to Indonesia in the finals at Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro early Thursday (Malaysian time).
The pair lost in straight sets, 21-14 and 21-12 and has only won once out of nine meetings with the 2013 world champions.
“We have tried our best but they are clearly better,” said Chan.
In the first set, the Malaysian pair could only manage to get as close as 9-11 before the Indonesians pulled away and ended the set at 14-21.
It was the same story all over again in the second set as the national pair kept pace till 10-13 before Tontowi-Liliyana ensured victory with 12-21, according to Bernama.
The Malaysian pair, however, created history by becoming the first national mixed doubles pair to enter the finals, and can be proud of returning home with the silver medal.
“I still can’t believe that I got to play in the Olympic finals although we didn’t do our best.
“Our mixed doubles teams have improved and I believe in the next Olympics, we can hope for something,” Goh said.
Malaysia still has a chance for its first Olympic gold medal through the men’s doubles event when Goh V Shem-Tan Eee Kiong take on Fu Haifeng and Zhang Nan from China in the finals this Friday.
Datuk Lee Chong Wei is also on track to fulfil his gold medal dream when he faces his rival from China, Lin Dan in the semi-finals, also on Friday.
