Shuttlers Koo and Tan eye rousing start to year
News 3:38 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles shuttler Tan Boon Heong aims to get into the groove in their campaign this season with a rousing start in the Malaysian Open, the second leg of the Super Series circuit, beginning on Wednesday in Bukit Jalil.
Boon Heong-Koo Kien Keat are the top seeds and they have an opening round match against unseeded but dangerous Indonesians Yonathan Suryatama Dasuki-Rian Sukmawan.
They have a clean record against Yonathan-Rian but it is getting more difficult to hold the aggressive Indonesians at bay. And Boon Heong is aware that they have to tread with caution and play their cards right.
“We defeated them en route to winning the Denmark Open title but it was close. They are getting better and better,” said Boon Heong.
“It will be a tough first-round match for us but we hope to get off to a good start.”
In their quarter are two talented Korean pairs Ko Sung-hyun-Yoo Yeon-seong and Kim Ki-jung-Shin Baek-cheol and England’s Anthony Clark-Nathan Robertson.
The other half of the draw has Korean No. 1 and second seeds Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae.
Boon Heong said that he was looking forward to having a good season.
“A good showing in the Malaysian Open will give us the confidence we need to face this year. We last won it in 2007 and since then, we have gone through many ups and downs,” said Boon Heong.
“We are more matured and our condition is better. Hopefully, we will continue to mount strong challenges as the country’s top pair.
“Our main goal is to play our role well for Malaysia in the Thomas Cup Finals and nail an elusive world championships title.”
The men’s world team championship Finals will be held in Bukit Jalil in May and he individual world meet will be played in Paris in August.
Malaysia will also be banking on Boon Heong-Kien Keat for honours in the New Delhi Commonwealth Games (October) and Guangzhou Asiad (November).
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 3:38 PM.
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