Koo-Tan advance despite unsatisfactory playing condition
News 9:59 AM
PETALING JAYA: The playing condition was not to the liking of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong but they managed to clear the first round hurdle in the China Open in Shanghai yesterday.
The top seeded Malaysians defeated China’s Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan 21-18, 21-15 to set up a meeting with Denmark’s Henriksen Kasper Faust-Anders Kristiansen for a place in the quarter-finals.
Coach Rosman Razak said that Kien Keat-Boon Heong complained about the slow shuttle.
“They were unable to play their normal game. The shuttle was slow and it sort of broke the rhythm of their aggressive play,” he said.
“In fact, most of the matches today went on in long rallies. There was about a three-hour delay in the proceedings. And that left many restless.
“Our players have to tighten up on their defensive game in order to adjust to the playing condition here.”
Rosman added that the Kien Keat-Boon Heong certainly cannot expect the Danish emerging pair of Faust-Kristiansen as pushovers.
He has reason to be cautious because the pair beat Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif in the France Open last month.
“I do not want Koo-Tan to be their next victims. Hopefully, they will be able to stay focused throughout the game tomorrow,” said Rosman.
Kien Keat also made it to the second round in the mixed doubles with Wong Pei Tty. But they had to dig deep into the reserves to beat Hong Kong’s Wong Wai Hong-Koon Wai Chee 21-18, 20-22, 21-10 to set up a match against Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei of China.
It was the end of road for two independent men’s doubles pairs.
Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah went down 13-21, 17-21 to Indonesians Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki-Rian Sukmawan while Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng were beaten 20-22, 10-21 by Denmark’s Mathis Boe-Carsten Mogensen.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:59 AM.
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