KUALA LUMPUR — National mixed doubles player Hoo Pang Ron has been navigating a challenging badminton career, with frequent partner changes stalling his progression since joining the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in 2016.
Despite successes with former partners, including Cheah Yee See and Teoh Mei Xing, inconsistency has kept him from reaching elite status.
Now, paired with Cheng Su Yin, Pang Ron hopes this partnership will bring the stability needed to aim for the 2028 Olympics, grounded in resilience that has kept him moving forward despite past setbacks.
Nearly eight years with the national squad, Pang Ron has experienced moments of both victory and struggle, capturing titles at the India and Bangladesh Internationals, the Hyderabad Open, and silver at the 2021 SEA Games.
Yet, the constant shifts have made building the needed momentum challenging.
Pang Ron’s first partner was Peck Yen Wei. Then, in 2018, he was paired up with Yee See.
After that, he had a brief stint with Toh Ee Wei in 2022, followed by a successful 10-month period with Mei Xing, during which they claimed two championship titles—Malaysia International Challenge 2022 and Maldives International Challenge 2023— and a runner-up finish (Iran International Challenge 2023).
However, that pairing was also short-lived, as he was instructed to team up with Su Yin last October.
Their partnership has shown early promise, achieving semi-final appearances this year at the Orleans Masters and Macau Open, bringing them to a world ranking of 24.
Looking ahead, he hopes their partnership will last, giving him the consistency he needs to push for Olympic qualification in Los Angeles.
Pang Ron acknowledges that this is not an easy situation and has sometimes contemplated giving up.
“This is life; we have to accept whatever challenges we face. All I can say is, I will take on the challenge, listen to my coach’s guidance, and do what is asked of me for my country and myself.
“Every player has their struggles, and there are times when I feel like giving up. However, I look for support from friends and family during those moments.
“I’m still fighting and won’t slow down. I’ll keep improving and continue discussing with my coaches to enhance my skills,” said Pang Ron.
Drawing inspiration from teammates Chen Tang Jie and Ee Wei, who faced similar partner challenges before qualifying for the Paris Olympics, Su Yin remains confident in their potential.
“We’re aiming for the Olympics,” she said, “but we’ll keep working harder every step of the way.” — November 2, 2024