Kien Keat-Boon Heong outclassed by Korean bogeymen
Top News 9:57 AM
DOUBLES shuttlers Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong walked through a unique entrance of a double decker bus into the Wembley Arena yesterday – all smiles.
But after just 39 minutes, they walked out of the arena looking dazed, with their hopes of going one step better in their fourth World Championships shattered by bogeymen Ko Sung-hyun-Yoo Yeon-seong of South Korea.
The fourth-seeded Kien Keat-Boon Heong, who were last year’s runners-up, trooped out with their tails between their legs after losing 17-21, 13-21.
They simply had no answer to Sung-hyun-Yeon-seong’s clever moves and punishing attacks in the quarter-finals.
Overstretched: Malaysia’s Tan Boon Heong fails to return a shot as Koo Kien Keat looks on during their men’s doubles quarter-final match against South Korea’s Ko Sung-hyun-Yoo Yeon-seong yesterday.
It was the Malaysians’ fifth defeat to South Korea’s second-ranked pair.
A dejected Kien Keat, who played below par, admitted that the Koreans were the better pair.
“The Koreans just did not allow us room to play our attacking game. They knew every detail of our game and anticipated all our moves at every turn. It was disappointing,” said Kien Keat.
“I am clueless as to why this pair always show strong character whenever they play against us. They were quite clever to put pressure on us.”
The opening game started in a drab manner, with both pairs capitalising on each other’s mistakes, until they were locked at 13-13.
Then, the Koreans raised the tempo and began to move even faster to set up opportunites to smash home winners against the Malaysians, especially against Kien Keat, to pull away for a 21-17 win.
Hopes of a Malaysian fightback in the second game were dashed, no thanks to their own limp attack, poor placing and weak returns.
With Sung-hyun covering the front court with his hawk-eyed sharpness, it was obvious there was no way back for the Malaysians as the Koreans took the second game 21-13.
A disappointed Boon Heong promised to come out of the defeat stronger as the pair shift their attention to next year’s Olympic Games.
“It is disappointing to lose in the quarter-finals, especially after having reached the final last year. But we will not let it crush our spirit,” he said.
Asked if it was time for them to go separate ways or to look for a new coach, Boon Heong said: “This is not for me to decide. It is up to the management. But one should not be judged on one tournament ... competition in the doubles event is very stiff and close.”
Kien Keat said that they might have to look at new ideas to overcome their nearest challengers.
“We must find ways to come out of any situation when under attack. Maybe we need more quality sparring or find something extra to pull away from others,” he said.
National doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky said that the Malaysians lost out in speed and power.
“I am trying to figure out the cause behind the Malaysians’ defeat to the Koreans.
“They can play well aginst the top stars but they tend to come up short against the second-ranked players. I do not have an answer right now,” said Rexy.
“Maybe, I am not good enough ... I will talk to the players. The Olympic Games are just 11 months away and it’s time for us to fine-tune their game.
“They have gone through ups and downs under me. Now, I need to do something to get their confidence back.”
MEN’S SINGLES
Third round: Kevin Cordon (Gua) bt Pablo Abian (Spa) 21-19, 19-21, 21-17; Nguyen Tien Minh (Vie) bt Boonsak Ponsana (Tha) 21-11, 21-15.
Quarter-finals: Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt Kevin Cordon (Gua) 21-7, 21-13; Lin Dan (Chn) bt Sho Sasaki 21-14, 21-16.
MEN’S DOUBLES
Third round: Mohd Ahsan-Bona Septano (Ina) bt Chai Biao-Guo Zhengdong (Chn) 22-20, 21-16; Hong Wei-hen Ye (Chn) bt Fang Chieh-min-Lee Sheng-mu (Tpe) 18-21, 21-17, 21-15.
Quarter-finals: Mohd Ahsan-Bona Septano (Ina) bt Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den) 21-18, 18-21, 24-22; Ko Sung-hyun-Yoo Yeon-seong (Kor) bt Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) 21-17, 21-14; Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (Chn) bt Mads Conrad-Petersen-Jonas Rasmussen (Den) 21-10, 21-13; Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae (Kor) bt Hong Wei-Shen Ye (Chn) 21-12, 26-24.
WOMEN’S SINGLES
Quarter-finals: Wang Xin (Chn) bt Saina Nehwal (Ind) 21-15, 21-10; Cheng Shao-chieh (Tpe) bt Wang Shixian (Chn) 21-16, 21-17. Juliane Schenk (Ger) bt Tine Baun (Den) 21-9, 21-11.
WOMEN’S DOUBLES
Quarter-finals: Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa (Jpn) 21-16, 21-10; Miyuki Maeda-Satoko Suetsuna (Jpn) bt Meiliana Jauhari-Greysia Polii (Ina) 21-15, 21-17; Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnappa (Ind) bt Vita Marissa-Nadya Melati (Ina) 17-21, 21-10, 21-17.
MIXED DOUBLES
Quarter-finals: Xu Chen-Ma Jin (Chn) bt Chayut Triyachart-Yao Lei (Sin) 21-16, 21-7; Tantowi Ahmad-Lilyana Natsir (Ina) bt Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen (Den) 21-12, 21-13
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:57 AM.
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