Koo-Tan are World No.1 again

PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong have not only regained the No. 1 spot in the world rankings but they have also shot to the top of the Super Series standings.

In the latest list released by the World Badminton Federation (WBF) after the Super Series Open tournaments in Denmark and France, Kien Keat-Boon Heong are now ranked ahead of Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark and Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong emerged triumphant in the Denmark Open in Odense but missed out on back-to-back titles when they were beaten by defending champions Markis-Hendra in the French Open final last Sunday.

With 48,520 points in the bag, Kien Keat-Boon Heong are assured of making the cut for the Super Series Masters Finals next month even if they skip the remaining two legs in Hong Kong and China.

Only the top eight after the 12-leg series will feature in the Masters Finals, which will be held from Dec 2-6 in Kuala Terengganu.

However, world championship silver medallists Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung are the notable pair in danger of missing the cut.

The South Korean top pair last featured in the Indonesia Open and have since skipped the last four Super Series tournaments. Yong-dae-Jae-sung are expected to play in the Hong Kong and China Opens to rake in ranking points to make the Finals.

The other Malaysian pairs still in the running to get among the top eight qualifiers are Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif (No. 12) and Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen (No. 14). But their chances to make it are slim as they have to win in either Hong Kong or Shanghai to get into the Finals.

Doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky is glad to see Kien Keat-Boon Heong following in the footsteps of Lee Chong Wei, who held on to his top ranked spot in the world and Super Series rankings despite not competing in the Denmark and French Opens.

“I hope they make their position stronger. They have had several disappointments in the past, including the world championships this year,” he said.

“The last time they held top place in the rankings, they failed to hold on to it. It was a good learning process for them and hopefully they do not make the same mistakes.”

Malaysia should have a smaller number of qualifiers for Finals this season compared to the inaugural edition in Kota Kinabalu.

Besides Chong Wei, Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, who are second in the women’s doubles rankings, are also assured of qualification.

World champion Lin Dan broke into the top four after lifting the French Open title and has the distinction of having won three out of the five Super Series events he competed in thus far.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 10:40 AM. Filed under News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0