Secret weapon of Kien Keat-Pei Tty fail to deliver

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia unleashed their secret weapon by fielding Koo Kien Keat-Wong Pei Tty in the mixed doubles event but it was still not good enough to turn the tables on fancied South Korea on the opening day of the Sudirman Cup badminton tournament in Guangzhou yesterday.

Malaysia went down fighting losing 2-3 to South Korea in their first Group A tie in Division One.

Kien Keat-Pei Tty, the bronze medallist at the 2006 World Championships in Madrid, almost gave a crucial first point for the country when they made Beijing Olympic Games gold medallist Lee Yong-dae-Lee Hyo-jung sweat before going down 22-24, 23-21, 15-21.
Just too good: Chong Wei (left) shaking hands with Soo-jang after their men’s singles match at the Sudirman Cup in Guangzhou yesterday. Chong Wei won 21-9, 21-13. — AFP

National doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky had opted for seasoned campaigner Pei Tty rather than youngster Ng Hui Lin in a bid to steal a point in the tie.

Malaysia also lost two other points in the doubles through both Kien Keat and Pei Tty, who failed to come good in the men’s and women’s events with their partners Tan Boon Heong and Chin Eei Hui respectively.

In a most awaited match of the day, Kien Keat-Boon Heong went down in a straight game defeat at 16-21, 16-21 to Malaysian Open champions Yong-dae-Jae-sung.

Despite a three-month break, Jae-sung, who is back after fulfilling his obligations in the National Service, showed he had not lost his touch at all.

Pei Tty-Eei Hui’s losing streak against Lee Kyung-won-Hyo-jung continued when they went down tamely at 8-21, 15-21.

Malaysia’s top two singles players Lee Chong Wei and Wong Mew Choo had won their respective matches but it was the latter, who stole the show.

Mew Choo, who is playing in her first international tournament this year, showed great fighting spirit to beat Hwang Hye-youn 21-10, 17-21, 21-17.

National doubles chief coach Rexy said that they had fielded their strongest line-up in a bid to take down the Koreans.

“I had to bring back Koo and Pei together in the mixed doubles to add more depth to the team. Koreans are known for the prowess in the doubles and we had to field our best,” said Rexy in a telephone interview yesterday.

“And Koo-Pei Tty almost pulled it off for us. Things could have been different if they had won the first game when they were leading 20-19.”

But he was disappointed that Koo and Pei Tty were unable to make a similar impact in the men and women doubles matches.

“Koo is still struggling to cope with playing in two events. It is not that he was tired but his movement was slower in the men’s doubles.

“This could be because he went all out in the mixed doubles. This has to be further improved,” said Rexy.

“Our women doubles did not play true to form. Eei Hui lacked the fire. I just hope that Eei Hui had showed the same fighting spirit as Mew Choo today.

Rexy said that Malaysia had to go for broke in their remaining two ties against Hong Kong (today) and Denmark (Thursday).

“A defeat today has left us without much choice. We have to win the remaining two ties. I still believe we have a chance if our players can rise to the occasion.”

Meanwhile, Pei Tty was disappointed after losing the mixed doubles.

“It was so close in the mixed doubles. The coach had warned me earlier that I may play with Koo and I was ready for it. It was a waste to lose,” said Pei Tty.

“I know the hope was high on Eei Hui and I in the doubles. Then, Malaysia were tied at 2-2. But we let the team and supporters down. We are sorry. We will fight back and try to make the semi-finals by doing well in the next two ties,” she added.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 3:11 PM. Filed under Koo Kien Keat, News, Wong Pei Tty . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0