Source: Action Images/ANDREW BOYERS
[Saba Sports News] Recently concluded Phuket International Badminton Series saw the Malaysian duo, Jimmy Wong and Lai Pei Jing, fall short against the Chinese pair Gao Jiaxuan and Wu Mengying, winning the mixed doubles runner-up position and receiving a prize of $300. After the match, 32-year-old Lai Pei Jing revealed on social media that many fans were curious about why they participated in such low-tier competitions, pointing out that the prize money was not enough to cover the expenses of the entire competition. In response, Lai Pei Jing explained that her current ranking does not allow her to compete in tournaments above the 300 level; moreover, there have been no 100 or 300 level competitions recently. Therefore, she decided to start with smaller competitions to observe her form and the chemistry with her partner. Regarding points, she will try her best to catch up, but she is not in a hurry and does not need to be strict with herself or her partner, letting things take their natural course. Some fans expressed that the expenses for high-level and low-tier competitions are the same, including plane tickets, accommodation, and meals, but the prize money and points differ significantly, empathizing with the difficulties of badminton freelancers and stating that without the strong support of local badminton associations, it is hard for players to secure long-term competition guarantees.