KUALA LUMPUR: National padel player Christian Chin has set the bar high for next year – he aims to break into the top-150 in the world rankings and win gold at the Malaysia SEA Games.
After turning pro last year, Christian has had a breakthrough season on tour this year. He is currently No. 320 in the rankings and also clinched a historic silver medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games last month.
A higher ranking will allow Christian to compete on the Premier Padel tour, which is the top-tier tour in the sport.
The 26-year-old had paired with Shungo Kusakabe on the pro circuit this year.
“My goal for next year is to break into the top-150 and become one of the Asian players who compete in the Premier Padel tour,” said Christian when met recently.
“I hope to be playing on the tour by the middle of the year.
“I will likely be pairing with a player from Spain for next year, though I am not able to confirm that yet.
“I managed to play qualies in one Premier Padel event this year (Pretoria, July) but was focusing more on preparations for the Asian Games after that.”
Christian, partnering Aidan Yunus, upset second seeds Farsad Shahi-Amirmohammad Jamshidi (Iran) en route to the final in Nagoya, where the sport was making its Asiad debut.
They lost to the top-seeded Naif brothers, Mashari and Rashed (Qatar), in the decider.
The Sabah-born player is expecting the pair to have a target on their backs at the SEA Games.
“At the Asian Games this year, the pressure was on everyone to perform as it was the first time the sport has been included,” said Christian.
“For the SEA Games next year, being played at home, the pressure will be on us. But I think if we work on our game and our performances, the results will speak for themselves.”
Christian listed Indonesia and the Philippines as Malaysia’s most likely rivals at the SEA Games level.