Koo and Tan lead doubles charge into the last eight

IT was a great day for Malaysia in the men’s doubles event when all three pairs checked into the quarter-finals.

Special praise, however, should go to Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

Yesterday, Kien Keat-Boon Heong tamed Japan’s Keishi Kawaguchi-Naoki Kawamae 21-16, 21-14 to set up a date with compatriots Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari.

National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky was pleased with Kien Keat-Boon Heong’s performance, saying: “I saw something special in them again after a long time”.

“I saw a little of the character that was missing from Koo and Tan. They were more focused in their game. This is a good sign,” said Rexy.

Zakry-Fairuzizuan, on their part, lived up to expectations by beating Hong Kong’s Albertus Susanto Nyoto-Yohan Hadikusumo Wiratama 21-16, 22-20 in the second round.

Both Malaysian pairs will be joined by top seeds Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in the last eight after the veterans cruised past Cambodians Prum Saravuth -Teav Yongvannak 21-8, 21-9.

On the two-time champions Tan Fook-Wan Wah’s match against South Koreans Lee Jae-jin-Hwang Ji-man, Rexy said: “They have had two easy matches. The real test will come tomorrow (today). But I hope Tan Fook-Wan Wah will clear the hurdle.”

Posted by Lucas Liau on 4:32 PM. Filed under Koo Kien Keat, News, Tan Boon Heong . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0