Koo experiences mixed fortunes with different doubles partners
Latest News 10:27 AM
PETALING JAYA: National doubles shuttler Koo Kien Keat
experienced a high and a low with new partners on the opening day of the
Kedah Open at the KBA Hall in Alor Setar yesterday.
For the Kedah Open, Kien Keat has been paired up with Ong Soon Hock and Florah Ng in the men’s and mixed doubles events respectively to break the monotony of having to play with his regular partners.
He has a four-year partnership with Tan Boon Heong in the men’s doubles while the other half of his mixed doubles combination is Wong Pei Tty.
Yesterday, his partnership with Soon Hock crashed to a first-round defeat by back-up pair Goh Wei Shem-Teo Kok Siang, losing 19-21, 13-21 in only 30 minutes.
Wei Shem-Kok Siang, who are aiming to establish themselves as a reliable pair for the country, will be out to achieve a similar victory when they take on former world junior champions Boon Heong-Hoon Thien How next for a place in the semi-finals.
There was, however, consolation for Kien Keat when he made it to the second round of the mixed doubles with Florah, beating Mohd Hashim-Ng Soo Mui 21-18, 21-19.
But his campaign with Florah may come to an end against top seeds and Thailand Open champions Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, who enjoyed a first-round bye yesterday.
National coach Pang Cheh Chang said that Kien Keat-Soon Hock learnt a valuable lesson in their defeat yesterday.
“The defeat exposed their lack of speed in the game. The back-up players were faster and our elite players will have to improve on this,” said Cheh Chang.
“Wei Shem-Kok Siang played well and showed great aggression today.
“Their win is good for the sport because it showed that our back-up players are hungry for success.”
Meanwhile, there were good news for the back-up men’s singles shuttlers, led by Tan Chun Seang yesterday.
Top seed Mohd Hafiz Hashim and former international Kuan Beng Hong withdrew from the tournament, leaving the race for the title wide open.
In the top half of the draw, the battle for a place in the final should be among three players – Liew Daren, Chan Kwong Beng and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif. The fight in the other half should be between Chun Seang and second seed Chong Wei Feng.
Chun Seang will take on Lok Chong Chieh today while Wei Feng squares off against Lim Fang Yang.
For the Kedah Open, Kien Keat has been paired up with Ong Soon Hock and Florah Ng in the men’s and mixed doubles events respectively to break the monotony of having to play with his regular partners.
He has a four-year partnership with Tan Boon Heong in the men’s doubles while the other half of his mixed doubles combination is Wong Pei Tty.
Yesterday, his partnership with Soon Hock crashed to a first-round defeat by back-up pair Goh Wei Shem-Teo Kok Siang, losing 19-21, 13-21 in only 30 minutes.
Wei Shem-Kok Siang, who are aiming to establish themselves as a reliable pair for the country, will be out to achieve a similar victory when they take on former world junior champions Boon Heong-Hoon Thien How next for a place in the semi-finals.
There was, however, consolation for Kien Keat when he made it to the second round of the mixed doubles with Florah, beating Mohd Hashim-Ng Soo Mui 21-18, 21-19.
But his campaign with Florah may come to an end against top seeds and Thailand Open champions Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, who enjoyed a first-round bye yesterday.
National coach Pang Cheh Chang said that Kien Keat-Soon Hock learnt a valuable lesson in their defeat yesterday.
“The defeat exposed their lack of speed in the game. The back-up players were faster and our elite players will have to improve on this,” said Cheh Chang.
“Wei Shem-Kok Siang played well and showed great aggression today.
“Their win is good for the sport because it showed that our back-up players are hungry for success.”
Meanwhile, there were good news for the back-up men’s singles shuttlers, led by Tan Chun Seang yesterday.
Top seed Mohd Hafiz Hashim and former international Kuan Beng Hong withdrew from the tournament, leaving the race for the title wide open.
In the top half of the draw, the battle for a place in the final should be among three players – Liew Daren, Chan Kwong Beng and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif. The fight in the other half should be between Chun Seang and second seed Chong Wei Feng.
Chun Seang will take on Lok Chong Chieh today while Wei Feng squares off against Lim Fang Yang.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 10:27 AM.
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