KUALA LUMPUR: When former national doubles ace Tan Boon Heong cautioned Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik recently about the potential threat posed by Great Britain's pair Ben Lane-Sean Vendy to their Olympic gold medal aspirations, his concern carried some weight.
World No. 18 Lane-Vendy have arrived in Paris for their second Games, brimming with optimism, having previously stated that they fear no opponent.
In an interview with BBC, Vendy expressed confidence. "I think in the last two years, we've beaten eight out of the (world's) top 10s, so we know we can do it.
"That's not like a question for us, it's just put it all together on the day and we don't lack confidence when we get out there. We know we can beat everyone."
The British pair have indeed defeated most of the world's top 10 pairs in recent years, including China's top seeds Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang, whom they will also face in the group stage. The fourth pair in Group A are Nyl Yakura-Aaron Dong of Canada.
With Wei Keng-Wang Chang expected to top Group A, Lane-Vendy recognise the importance of defeating Aaron-Wooi Yik when they clash on Saturday to secure a top-two finish and advance to the quarter-finals.
Aaron-Wooi Yik certainly need no reminder of how formidable Lane-Vendy can be.
Lane-Vendy were the pair who wrecked their hopes of winning the Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham in 2022 by beating them in the semi-finals, and they did it in emphatic fashion, wrapping up the rubber game with a humiliating score of 21-4.
Despite being underdogs, Lane-Vendy dare to dream big. It's not an unrealistic goal, considering that their former teammates Marcus Ellis-Chris Langridge stunned the competition to win bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"The ultimate goal and dream when you're growing up is Olympic medal, and we have a chance to get an Olympic medal now and achieve our childhood dream. We're not cutting any corners, we're giving everything we've got," Vendy vowed.
He added: "It's the Olympic Games, it's the pinnacle of 99% of sports. Every four years, you get all the best athletes from all the best sports in the world coming into one place, it's a big deal."
Lane-Vendy can draw inspiration from their coach, Nathan Robertson, who with Gail Emms, clinched silver at the 2004 Athens Games after a narrow 15-1, 12-15, 15-12 loss to China's Zhang Jun-Gao Ling — a feat that remains Great Britain's best in Olympic badminton.
"We work with him every single day and you know he helps us like you wouldn't believe really," said Vendy.
"We're so grateful to have someone like that in our corner because he's been there and he's done it and he's got an Olympic medal which is what we're striving for every day.
"It's good to know that the person guiding you there has experienced themselves of actually being there."