For 34 minutes, Terry Hee and Jessica Tan tried to match the intensity of their world No. 1 opponents Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong.
But their efforts were in vain.
Amid a flurry of rallies and smashes, the Singapore pair not only fell 21-11, 21-11 to the home favourites in the round of 16 of the Badminton Asia Championships in China on April 11, but also lost their chance of clinching a direct spot for the Paris Olympics.
Hee and Tan, who are 19th in the world, had to extend their stay in the competition at Ningbo Olympic Sports Centre to earn enough points to climb up the rankings for a ticket to Paris.
There are only 16 slots for the doubles at the Games, compared to 38 entries for the singles.
The first 13 eligible pairs are allocated slots via the Race to Paris rankings, which tabulate their points during the qualification window from May 1, 2023 to April 28, 2024.
The remaining three spots are given to the continental champions of America, Africa and Oceania.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 12, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 12, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
EVEREST CLIMBS TO GROUP 1 HEIGHTS
World’s richest sprint race gains recognition at its eighth running, as well as All-Star Mile
Heat stress Different work conditions require flexible guidelines on workers' attire
We thank Mr Rahul Gupta for his suggestions (Study standard heat-friendly work clothes for outdoor workers, Oct 8).
Airbus deliveries drop as suppliers struggle
PARIS Airbus deliveries fell 9 per cent in September to 50 jets compared with the same month in 2023, the European planemaker said on Oct 9, rekindling a debate over the strength of its industrial goals as suppliers struggle to keep up with demand.
Mental health ambassadors at all PAP branches by 2025
By 2025, all 93 People's Action Party (PAP) branches will have mental health ambassadors to promote mental well-being in every neighbourhood and support the work of MPs in addressing residents' mental health concerns.
Zelensky says there is 'real chance' to end war in 2025
He did not reveal how this could happen but is counting on support from key allies
Prabowo defends plan to expand government with ‘fat' Cabinet
JAKARTA Indonesia's Presidentelect Prabowo Subianto has defended his plan to expand government agencies, saying it is needed for a strong administration even if critics call it a \"fat\" Cabinet that will bloat the bureaucracy.
Baby in Malaysia has stage three ovarian cancer
Rhea Yasmine
Death penalty of Najib's ex-bodyguard commuted
Federal court reduces his sentence to 40 years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia has commuted the death sentence of an ex-police guard of former premier Najib Razak, after the country changed its law on capital punishment.
Patriarch of India's Tata Group dies at 86
Former chairman Ratan Tata’s business moves helped put country on world stage
NewJeans' Hanni to testify about workplace bullying at inquiry
K-pop idol Hanni of girl group NewJeans is taking a stand. She has announced her intention to testify before the South Korean National Assembly's Environment and Labour Committee as part of a workplace harassment inquiry slated for Oct 25.