Kien Keat would rather focus on the enemy within

Posted by Lucas Liau Koo Kien Keat, News 10:39 AM

The Asian Badminton Championships is set to be the perfect stage for Koo Kien Keat (pic) and Tan Boon Heong to keep an eye on all the second ranked men pairs.

The information will certainly be handy when Kien Keat-Boon Heong play the role as the second doubles pair for Malaysia during the Thomas Cup Finals in Jakarta from May 11-18.

But Kien Keat would rather focus on himself than others in the Asian meet.

“I have had always taken extra interest on my probable opponents in the previous tournaments but this time, I want to focus on getting my game right first,” said Kien Keat.

The flamboyant Kien Keat had come under fire over his performances and lifestyle recently. But all that is a thing of the past now.

“I have had a long chat with coach Rexy (Mainaky). It was good as I was able to explain many things to him. Boon Heong and I have been really focused in training,” he said.

Kien Keat said that he was determined to get a timely boost ahead of the Thomas Cup Finals.

“It will be good to go as far as possible. We reached the final last year. We will give our best,” he said.

Based on the draw yesterday, though, Kien Keat-Boon Heong are not so lucky.

Their first real test in the quarter-finals are set to be against team-mates Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari.

Third seeds Kien Keat-Boon Heong lost to Zakry-Fairuz in the second round of the Swiss Open last month and it may be a close affair between the two pairs again.

In their same half are second seeds and All-England champions Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae of South Korea and Indonesians Joko Riyadi-Hendra Gunawan.

Top seeds Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, who are gunning for a hat-trick of titles, have Indonesians Luluk Hadiyanto-Alven Yulianto, South Koreans Lee Jae-jin-Hwang Ji-man and the Indonesian scratch pair of Candra Wijaya-Nova Widianto for company.

All eyes will be on Candra-Nova as Indonesia could be trying them out and considering pairing them for the Thomas Cup Finals.