PETALING JAYA: No badminton, but lots of cooking.

This is how mixed doubles star Goh Liu Ying had been relaxing in Melaka with her family before returning to Kuala Lumpur to face a hectic second-half badminton season.

World No. 8 Liu Ying and partner Chan Peng Soon took part in the Tokyo Olympic Games last month but they did not win any of their group matches, which saw them returning home early and disappointed.

“After I came back from Tokyo, I did not want to have anything to do with badminton for a while. I spent quality time with my parents. I cooked for them - simple vegetable and fish dishes.

“I just needed that time off from badminton. I could not train anyway because the badminton halls were closed but I did not want to talk about it.”

Liu Ying’s cooling-off period from the sport was understandable. As independent players, she and Peng Soon, who had won silver at the 2016 Rio edition, had faced challenges after challenges in their preparation for the Tokyo Games.

“There were just so many hurdles... the Olympics was postponed, tournaments were called off, we did not have a place to train at one point. As independent players, we had to deal with our physical conditions, administration and finances too.

“But we still did our best with all the limitations. Unfortunately, we lost, that was disappointing but it was frustrating that we had to face all kinds of insulting comments too. It was hard.”