Boon Heong-Thien How reunion on the cards
News 9:04 AM
KUALA LUMPUR: A reunion for former world junior champions Tan Boon Heong-Hoon Thien How may be on the cards in the Thomas Cup Finals.
The coaches are now busy analysing the opponents in the rival teams and planning for the best strategies to opt for in Malaysia’s bid to regain the Cup last won in Kuala Lumpur in 1992.
It has been four years now since Boon Heong-Thien How played together in a tournament. The 2004 world junior champions parted company after the 2006 Denmark Open.
Hard at work: Hoon Thien How (centre) in action with Ong Soon Hock (right) during the Thomas Cup simulation tournament on April 28. Currently, in the Thomas Cup squad, Boon Heong forms the country’s top pair with Koo Kien Keat while Thien How is in the team for the Finals for the first time with Ong Soon Hock. The second-ranked pair are Mohd Fairuizizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif.
Boon Heong, who is playing in his third Finals, said that he was ready to pair up with any players as required by the coaches.
“Thien How and I did well in junior tournaments. We may not have played together for four years but it will not be too difficult to team up with him again,” he said.
“We have played with different partners in training a few times just to be prepared for any eventualities.
“If I am teamed up with Thien How, we will probably play the second doubles match.
“It is up to the coaches to name the best pair for the tasks. For now, I am ready to play as the first doubles with Koo (Kien Keat).”
Boon Heong made his debut at the 2006 Finals in Tokyo as the third pair with Chew Choon Eng. At the 2008 Finals, he was the second ranked pair with Kien Keat but they were not impressive. And coach Rexy Mainaky pulled off a surprise by fielding Kien Keat and veteran Choong Tan Fook in the quarter-final tie against Japan and Malaysia made it to the semi-finals with a 3-0 win.
For this year’s challenge, Malaysia are in Group B with Japan and Nigeria. The top two teams advance to the quarter-finals.
The coaches are now busy analysing the opponents in the rival teams and planning for the best strategies to opt for in Malaysia’s bid to regain the Cup last won in Kuala Lumpur in 1992.
It has been four years now since Boon Heong-Thien How played together in a tournament. The 2004 world junior champions parted company after the 2006 Denmark Open.
Hard at work: Hoon Thien How (centre) in action with Ong Soon Hock (right) during the Thomas Cup simulation tournament on April 28. Boon Heong, who is playing in his third Finals, said that he was ready to pair up with any players as required by the coaches.
“Thien How and I did well in junior tournaments. We may not have played together for four years but it will not be too difficult to team up with him again,” he said.
“We have played with different partners in training a few times just to be prepared for any eventualities.
“If I am teamed up with Thien How, we will probably play the second doubles match.
“It is up to the coaches to name the best pair for the tasks. For now, I am ready to play as the first doubles with Koo (Kien Keat).”
Boon Heong made his debut at the 2006 Finals in Tokyo as the third pair with Chew Choon Eng. At the 2008 Finals, he was the second ranked pair with Kien Keat but they were not impressive. And coach Rexy Mainaky pulled off a surprise by fielding Kien Keat and veteran Choong Tan Fook in the quarter-final tie against Japan and Malaysia made it to the semi-finals with a 3-0 win.
For this year’s challenge, Malaysia are in Group B with Japan and Nigeria. The top two teams advance to the quarter-finals.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:04 AM.
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