Tokyo Olympics: Hong Kong’s Tse Ying-suet and Tang Chun-man aim to upset Japan’s duo for perfect end to Games career for coach and star
- Tears shed as Hong Kong mixed doubles duo aim to upset hosts for bronze after losing to China’s No 1 badminton seeds
- Medal would be ideal gift for departing coach Chen Kang as Tang says he does not know if he will play at another Games
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“This should be my last match in the Olympic stage and will try to enjoy it,” Tse said after she and partner Tang Chun-man lost their semi-final to the No 1 seeded Chinese pair of Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong 2-0 (21-16, 21-12).
03:54
More Olympic medal hopes for Hong Kong as swimmer Siobhan Haughey storms into 100m freestyle final
“I’m not sure if this will also be my last Olympics, as you never know,” Tang said. “No matter if she continues to play or not, hopefully we can get some good results.”
They were both in tears by this point ahead of what could be an emotional farewell to the Games, at Tse’s third. This should also be the end of the road for the pair’s coach Chen Kang.
“It should also be the last time with us for our coach as he will quit the Hong Kong team after the Olympics,” Tang said.
“Although he said he is happy with a semi-final berth, we want to win a medal for him as the best souvenir before his departure.”
Tse echoed that sentiment.
“He was with me since my first Olympics [the women’s doubles in London in 2012] and he stayed with me throughout the years despite securing any outstanding results,” she said.
05:25
Hong Kong’s most successful Olympics ever as swimmer Siobhan Haughey wins silver at Tokyo 2020
“I want to present him with the best gift before his departure. Coach Chen will go back to Taiwan first and maybe spend more time with his family. Also, another coach Choong Tan-Fook [from Malaysia], they see us more than their own kids and never witness their kids growing up because of coaching us. We want to present them a good result.”
The small matter of the Japanese pair of Yuta Watanabe and Ariga Higashino stand in their way of the ideal farewell gift.
“We have never won against them. The pressure is on their side even if they have home ground advantage as they are under pressure to get a medal,” Tse said, though she added it will not be easy.
“Hong Kong has had many good results so far in Tokyo which has encouraged us, but we must play better than today and to our level, or it will be very difficult,” Tang said.
“If we can play like the final stages of today and not give in then hopefully it can help our game tomorrow. We’re disappointed today but have to put it behind and prepare for tomorrow,” Tse added.
There will be more tears then, no doubt, but hopefully the duo can sign off with a bronze medal.
