KUALA LUMPUR: After close to seventy years, a Malaysian pair finally won the mixed doubles badminton gold at the Swiss Open.
Independents Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai landed the Super 300 crown after defeating compatriots and world No. 9 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei 21-16, 21-13 in Basel on Sunday.
Despite missing out on qualifying for the Paris Olympics, winning a World Tour title after six years is a huge boost for world No. 14 Soon Huat-Shevon.
In a recent interview with Timesport, Shevon said the 2018 Singapore Open champions have no intentions of hanging up their racquets just yet.
"Missing out on qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paris Olympics is disappointing, but it's not the end of the world.
"Why should we call it quits when we are still fit and enjoying ourselves on court? We will continue playing," said Shevon.
Though Tang Jie-Ee Wei have already secured their Olympics spot, they will be disappointed for missing out on their first title this season, after also reaching the Thailand Masters final last month.
Soon Huat-Shevon won US$16,590 (RM78,000) for the Swiss Open crown while Tang Jie-Ee Wei settled for US$7,980 (RM38,000).
FINAL RESULTS
Men's singles: Lin Chun Yi (Tai) bt Chou Tien Chen (Tai) 7-21, 22-20, 23-21.
Men's doubles: Ben Lane-Sean Vendy (Eng) bt Muhammad Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana (Ina) 24-22, 26-24.
Women's singles: Carolina Marin (Spa) bt Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (Ina) 21-19, 13-21, 22-20.
Women's doubles: Lanny Tria Mayasari-Ribka Sugiarto (Ina) bt Hsu Ya Ching-Lin Wan Ching (Tai) 13-21, 21-16, 21-8.
Mixed doubles: Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai bt Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei 21-16, 21-13.