Former Olympic silver medallist Goh Liu Ying has decided to end her illustrious career in the first round of the 2023 Malaysia Open on 11 January.
She was also given a special retirement ceremony at the Axiata Arena on Saturday (14 January). She was joined by some of her closest friends for a brief three-on-three exhibition session during the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Goh paid tribute to her father, Goh Chak Wee, for supporting her journey in badminton. She said that it was his unwavering support that pushed her to make her country famous on the international stage.
“I won’t be here if it was not for him. Dad always said to me he would feel sad if got injured during games. He would question if his decision to let me play badminton was right or not,” she told Bernama.
She added that her father did not expect to see her be selected to play for the country and eventually win a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics with her partner Chan Peng Soon.
Liu Ying helped us realise our dreams
Her father, Chak Wee said he would miss seeing her in action on the courts, but at the same time, was happy that she would no longer have to suffer due to injuries while playing the game after this.
“I brought her to watch the Olympic Games when she was only three years old. She just sat quietly behind me.
“Before she entered the Bukit Jalil Sports School, Liu Ying was a pampered child who would always tag along to matches unlike her mother.
“It was my ambition to be a badminton player, but because of financial factors couldn’t, could not even afford to buy a good racket, we just used wooden rackets. Liu Ying helped us realise that desire,” he said.
Goh Chak Wee berkongsi detik membanggakan dihadirkan anaknya, Goh Liu Ying sepanjang bergelar pemain badminton negara.
— AdamZamri (@AdamZamri8) January 14, 2023
Selamat bersara Liu Ying ! @UMonline pic.twitter.com/2IyTn18JuH
Plans after retirement
Meanwhile, Liu Ying said she plans to organise a series of tournaments beginning with competitions for young amateur players and veterans in Kuala Lumpur after her retirement as a national player.
“I will start to organise more badminton competitions, maybe not only badminton but I would definitely start with badminton in February, 3 vs 3, in April with Astro. Because I know Malaysians love badminton so much, so I try to organise something,” she said.
Liu Ying’s journey to the top was not all bed of roses as she suffered a series of injuries along the way. In 2014, she underwent an operation on both her knees due to ligament damage and cartilage deterioration and had to take 11 months of painful rehabilitation.
We wish Goh Liu Ying all the best in her future endeavours!
