Top Malaysian badminton player Shevon Lai Jemie has said she was ready for an on-court separation with her husband for the sake of her team in the Sudirman Cup. Lai is one of Malaysia’s best bets in the popular mixed team championship set to be held in Xiamen, China from April 27 to May 4.

Lai and her husband Goh Soon Huat are currently World No. 4 and Malaysia’s top-ranked pair in mixed doubles. Reuters reported Lai telling Malaysia's Star newspaper that she and her husband were ready to make the tactical sacrifice. Malaysia are in Group C along with Japan, Australia and France.

“Of course, in any situation, if the team need us to split, we're definitely okay with it. It's all about doing what's best for the team,” Lai said during a training session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara.

Lai sees an opportunity in playing with a different partner as she believes she could “learn something new”. “It's quite refreshing. Yes, it gives us a fresh perspective and allows us to adapt to different styles of play. Both Soon Huat and I are always trying to become more all-rounded as players.”

Lai and Goh defeated India's Ashwini Ponnapa and Dhruv Kapilla in a group game in the 2023 edition of the Sudirman Cup, in which Malaysia claimed bronze.

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