Jeremy: Victorious duo benefited from mixed doubles exposure
News 11:48 AM
KUALA LUMPUR: Specialising in the mixed doubles this year has helped Chan Peng Soon and Lim Khim Wah to become better players.
At least, that is what the mixed doubles coach Jeremy Gan thinks.
With a better variety in their game and excellent court coverage, the duo were able to turn the tables on top seeds and seasoned campaigners Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in the men’s doubles final of the Thailand Open in Bangkok yesterday.
The 2008 national men doubles champions Khim Wah and Peng Soon were paired up with Amelia Anscelly and Goh Liu Ying respectively in the mixed doubles department under Jeremy this year.
Their main priority is the mixed doubles in international tournaments but they get to play in the men’s doubles depending on the entries available.
Jeremy said that Khim Wah-Peng Soon’s first Open title showed that they could focus in both the mixed and men’s doubles.
“Their main event this year is the mixed doubles. As both have been named for the Thailand Open in the mixed doubles, we decided to pit them together in the men’s doubles,” said Jeremy in a telephone interview from Bangkok.
“And they have surprised us by winning the title in the men’s doubles.
“They are used to covering up for the girls in the mixed doubles. And today, they did well to cover for each other and had better court control. They had variety in their game and that became an advantage for them,” said Jeremy.
“They are young and I do not think fitness and strength will be a problem for them now.
“They can handle two events and can turn out to be like South Korea’s Lee Yong-dae one day,” he added.
In 2008, the talented Yong-dae won the Beijing Olympic Games mixed doubles title with Lee Hyo-jung and then paired up with Jung Jae-sung to win the All-England men’s doubles crown.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 11:48 AM.
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