MALACCA: Goh Liu Ying's parents were a picture of happiness despite their daughter's unsuccessful bid to deliver the first ever Olympic gold medal for Malaysia in the Rio Games.
Goh Chak Whee, 59, said Liu Ying and her mixed double partner Chan Peng Soon tried their best to beat Indonesia's Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir.
"I am very happy and proud with their achievement.
"I think all Malaysians are also feeling the same," he said when met at Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron's official residence, Seri Bendahara.
He said that despite only winning the silver medal, Liu Ying and Peng Soon have already created history with their achievements at the Rio Games.
His wife Yong Ooi Lin, 53, said the Malaysian mixed double pair can hold their heads high with their performance.
"To win a silver medal is already something that we can be proud of.
It would have been a bonus if they had won the gold medal," she said.
Meanwhile Idris said the Malacca government would award RM25,000 each to Liu Ying and Peng Soon for winning the silver medal.
He said the state government had planned to award the pair RM50,000 each had they won gold.
"Luck was not with our side this time.
"However I would like to congratulate them for winning the silver medal for the country," he said.
Idris said Liu Ying would also be awarded the Bintang Cemerlang Melaka in conjunction with the Malacca Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob's birthday this October.