Kien Keat-Boon Heong hope to survive three-cornered fight
News 11:38 AM
PETALING JAYA: Three top men’s pair will turn on the heat in cold Odense to win the Denmark Open badminton title again.
The championships begin today and Malaysia’s second seeds Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong are determined to come through a projected three-cornered fight triumphantly.
Kien Keat has won the Danish title twice – with Chan Chong Ming in 2005 and with Boon Heong in 2007.
Thee are also two other previous champions in the fray – Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia (2008) and local favourites Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen (2004 and 2006).
While determined to keep up his good track record on Danish soil, Kien Keat said that they would have to take a cautious approach, especially after having suffered a first-round defeat by Kenichi Hayakawa-Kenta Kazuno at the Japan Open last month.
“Training towards the Denmark Open with Boon Heong had been good. I think, it is important for us to use this tournament to get our game going again,” he said.
Their first test will probably be in a second-round match tomorrow against Japan Open runners-up Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki-Rian Sukmawan.
If they keep their unbeaten run intact against the Indonesian youngsters, Kien Keat-Boon Heong have in their path in the quarter-finals either Paaske-Rasmussen or Mohd Ahsan-Bona Septano of Indonesia.
There is an opportunity for an all-Malaysian semi-final if Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif clear their matches in their quarter and Kien Keat-Boon Heong do likewise.
“We will stay focused on the tough early matches. What is important is for Boon Heong and I to play well together,” said Kien Keat.
Japan Open champions and top seeds Markis-Hendra are the favourites to reach the final from the other half of the draw, which has third seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark and eighth seeds Guo Zhengdong-Xu Chen of China.
The absence of world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng and runners-up Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung have certainly left some space for others to jostle for the title.
Malaysia have two players in the men’s singles competition – Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Wong Choong Hann.
They have one representatives each in the women’s doubles (defending champions Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty) and mixed doubles (Kien Keat-Pei Tty).
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 11:38 AM.
Filed under
