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No cheer for home fans after Koo-Tan exit

Posted by Lucas Liau News 9:17 AM

Comeback kids: Lee Yong-dae (left) and Jung Jae-sung of South Korea celebrate

after beating Malaysians Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong 16-21, 21-16, 21-18 in

the men’s doubles semi-final yesterday.

MALAYSIA will not have a men’s doubles finalist for the first time in three years in the Asian Badminton Championships after Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong crashed out in the semi-finals at the Bandaraya Stadium yesterday.

Yesterday, Kien Keat-Boon Heong failed to stop South Koreans Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung, going down 21-16, 16-21, 18-21, in 65 minutes.

But the Malaysians could not be faulted for not trying to pull the rug from under the All-England and Swiss Open champions.

After a fiery opening game victory, the Malaysians had several chances to kill off the Koreans in the next game. But they blew it with poor shots.

After a poor start in the decider, the Malaysians came alive towards the tail end of the match but their revival proved to be a case of too little too late.

The Koreans will now meet Indonesian scratch pair Candra Wijaya-Nova Widianto for the title.
The Indonesians prevented an all-Korean final when they put up a solid show to beat Lee Jae-jin-Hwang Ji-man 21-15, 19-21, 21-17 in another energy-sapping semi-final.

Boon Heong was clearly disgusted by the defeat to Yong-dae-Jae-sung, hitting his racquet on the court until it broke when the Koreans secured the winning point.

“It was so disappointing especially after Koo and I got off to a great start. We wanted so much to beat this Korean pair,” said Boon Heong, who was the runner-up in the last two editions.

“After we lost the second game, I was not confident enough to play my own game. I made the mistake of going for smashes to win points when I had an easier option. I must learn to think positively – no matter what situation we are in.

“But I am pleased with the way Koo and I have played in the ABC. Our combination has improved a lot.”

Although Koo was also happy with their performances, he rued the missed chance of making his first final with Boon Heong this year.

“It was certainly one of our best performances this year. But the Koreans were simply better,” he said.

National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky too could afford to smile despite the duo’s defeat.

“I think it is safe to say that the 'original’ Koo-Tan are finally back in action. This is a positive for me as they remind me of when they first started playing as a pair,” said Rexy.

Men’s singles: Chen Jin (Chn) bt Lin Dan (Chn) 21-13, 21-14; Park Sung-hwan (Kor) bt Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Ina) 14-21, 21-16, 21-19.

Men’s doubles: Candra Wijaya-Nova Widianto (Ina) bt Lee Jae-jin-Hwang Ji-man (Kor) 21-15,19-21, 21-17; Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung (Kor) bt Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) 16-21, 21-16, 21-18.

Women’s singles: Wang Lin (Chn) bt Yip Pui Yin (Hkg) 21-14, 21-18; Jiang Yanjiao (Chn) bt Wang Chen (Hkg) 21-17, 21-16.

Women’s doubles: Cheng Wen-hsin-Chien Chin-yu (Tpe) bt Lee Hyo-jung-Lee Kyung-won (Kor) 21-18, 21-5; Yang Wei-Zhang Jiewen (Chn) bt Vita Marissa-Lilyana Natsir (Ina) 21-10, 21-16.

Mixed doubles: Flandi Limpele-Vita Marissa (Ina) bt Fang Chien-min-Cheng Wen-hsing (Tpe) 21-17, 21-15; Nova Widianto-Lilyana Natsir (Ina) bt He Hanbin-Yu Yang (Chn) 21-14, 21-17.