Kuala Lumpur: The Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration this year holds a deeper meaning for Malaysian professional mixed doubles shuttler Shevon Lai Jemie: Besides celebrating it with Goh Soon Huat, her husband and on-court partner, for the first time, she will also finally have a proper family gathering after years of being unable to do so due to her busy schedule and commitments on the court.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Shevon expressed her joy over finally having a break from the demanding schedule that has kept her away from family gatherings during CNY over the years. “I can’t remember how many years it’s been since we had a proper break. Last year, we had a short one, but it was still during the Olympic qualifying period, so we couldn’t take many days off,” she said. This year, she is thrilled to spend the entire CNY with her family, something she hasn’t been able to do for several years.

Shevon noted that she will celebrate the festive season with Soon Huat’s family, following Chinese tradition.
However, she managed to spend a few days with her own family before the actual CNY celebration began. Looking ahead, Shevon hopes she and Soon Huat can maintain their physical condition while continuing to compete at the highest level. “For us, our main focus is to stay injury-free and be healthy. It’s challenging to maintain, but it’s our priority. We’re always trying new strategies and pushing ourselves to be better,” she added.

Shevon also shared her excitement about participating in the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships (BAMTC), scheduled for February 11-16 in Qingdao, China. She and Soon Huat are eager to be part of the team for this prestigious event. “We’re really excited for BAMTC. It’s always an exciting event to be part of, especially this year with some younger players in the mix. It’s a different experience, and both of us are ready to embrace it,” she said.