Badminton: Place in Finals could boost Koo-Tan chances in HK

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian men’s doubles pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boong Heong can count themselves as good as in for the Super Series Masters Finals, which will be held in Kota Kinabalu from Nov 18-21.

And it should give them the extra boost to do well in the Hong Kong Open, which begins today.

The Hong Kong Open is the 12th and final round of the Series this season.

In the Series rankings released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) yesterday, Kien Keat-Boon Heong moved five rungs up to ninth spot following their semi-final finish at the China Open in Shanghai last week.

But the duo are likely to make the trip to Kota Kinabalu as one of the eight pairs for the Finals because a country can only have a maximum of two representatives in each event.

Indonesia now have three pairs among the leading eight.

They are Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan, Rian Sukmawan-Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki, Candra Wijaya and the Indonesia-born Tony Gunawan, who are playing under the United States banner.

Malaysia’s Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif are also virtually assured of their place in the Finals by virtue of holding on to their second position in the Series standings.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong, however, will find it hard to repeat their semi-final finish at the China Open in Hong Kong.

They have been drawn in the same quarter as top seeds and Beijing Olympics champions Markis-Hendra.

Also in their path are Malaysian veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah and another Indonesian pair, Mohd Ahsan-Bona Septano.

Tan Fook and Wan Wah, who celebrated his 33rd birthday yesterday, are expected to take on Markis-Hendra in the second round and they could do Kien Keat-Boon Heong a favour by eliminating the Indonesians early.

National doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky hoped that his charges would be inspired by the Koreans, especially Lee Yong-dae.

In the China Open, Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung defeated Kien Keat-Boon Heong in the semi-finals en route to wining the title.

Yong-dae also won the mixed doubles title with Lee Hyo-jung.

“The Koreans had not played in any tournaments since the Beijing Olympics (last August) but they showed a great comeback in Shanghai. Yong-dae, especially, was in great form to win two titles. He should be an inspiration to our players,” said Rexy.

Today’s action in the Hong Kong Open features first-round competitions in the mixed doubles and women’s doubles.

And Kien Keat will partner Ng Hui Lin to take on South Koreans Ko Sung-hyun-Ha Jung-eun.

Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, who will be out to qualify for their fourth consecutive women’s doubles final, have drawn a first-round bye.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 9:08 AM. Filed under Koo Kien Keat, News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0