Kien Keat urges team-mates to have positive thinking ahead of world meet
Latest News 2:53 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: All the world championship-bound shuttlers
except for Lee Chong Wei left yesterday for a centralised training stint
at the Bath University in England.
And Koo Kien Keat, who is one of the most senior players in the side, is determined to inspire his team-mates to make the best out of the short stint ahead of the world championships, which will be held in Paris from Aug 23-29.
The doubles ace vowed to keep the morale of team high during the stint, which had received negative vibes from several players and coaches.
Just a day ago, national doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky hoped that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) would abort the plan to train in Bath, especially after Chong Wei and coach Misbun Sidek had been given exemption to opt out of the stint.
He felt that it was best for the team to train together.
The BAM, however, decided to stick to the plan as the coaches had not raise any objections during a meeting to finalise the stint several weeks ago.
Kien Keat said that the BAM had made a final decision and it was for the players to take it on a positive note.
“I think, the training in Bath will be a good thing. If we choose to take it positively, it will all go smoothly. It is all about one’s mind set,” he said.
Some players and coaches felt that the lack of sparring players and a change of environment to a boring one would affect morale ahead of the world championships.
“All the facilities are within the compounds of the university. I heard that the place is quite quiet. This is good as there will not be too many distractions. We can be more disciplined and focused,” said Kien Keat.
“Here (in Kuala Lumpur), you will find it hard to object when a friend invites you to go out or sometimes, we can be occupied answering phone calls. It is not that all these are bad but in Bath, we will have more time to concentrate on our game.
“I will influence my team-mates to make the best out of their stay in Bath. We need only one player to get excited and the rest will follow.”
On his chances with Tan Boon Heong in the world championships, Kien Keat said: “We neither expected a tough nor a favourable draw. The challenge in the doubles is quite open and it is never easy from the early rounds.”
Top seeds Kien Keat-Boon Heong are in the same quarter with China’s Chai Biao-Zhang Nan and South Koreans Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung.
“We will probably meet the Chinese (third ranked) pair in the third round. This will be an important match for us,” said Kien Keat.
“A win in a confident manner will certainly give us extra motivation against the Koreans if we meet them in the quarter-finals. We will give our best to go as far as possible in the championships.”
Besides Kien Keat-Boon Heong, the other players for the world championships who left yesterday for the stint in Bath were Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Wong Mew Choo, Lydia Cheah and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.
Accompanying them were sparring partners Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, Lok Chong Chieh, Mak Hee Chun, Tan Wee Kiong and Lim Khim Wah and coaches Pang Cheh Chang, Jeremy Gan and Rashid Sidek.
And Koo Kien Keat, who is one of the most senior players in the side, is determined to inspire his team-mates to make the best out of the short stint ahead of the world championships, which will be held in Paris from Aug 23-29.
The doubles ace vowed to keep the morale of team high during the stint, which had received negative vibes from several players and coaches.
Just a day ago, national doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky hoped that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) would abort the plan to train in Bath, especially after Chong Wei and coach Misbun Sidek had been given exemption to opt out of the stint.
He felt that it was best for the team to train together.
The BAM, however, decided to stick to the plan as the coaches had not raise any objections during a meeting to finalise the stint several weeks ago.
Kien Keat said that the BAM had made a final decision and it was for the players to take it on a positive note.
“I think, the training in Bath will be a good thing. If we choose to take it positively, it will all go smoothly. It is all about one’s mind set,” he said.
Some players and coaches felt that the lack of sparring players and a change of environment to a boring one would affect morale ahead of the world championships.
“All the facilities are within the compounds of the university. I heard that the place is quite quiet. This is good as there will not be too many distractions. We can be more disciplined and focused,” said Kien Keat.
“Here (in Kuala Lumpur), you will find it hard to object when a friend invites you to go out or sometimes, we can be occupied answering phone calls. It is not that all these are bad but in Bath, we will have more time to concentrate on our game.
“I will influence my team-mates to make the best out of their stay in Bath. We need only one player to get excited and the rest will follow.”
On his chances with Tan Boon Heong in the world championships, Kien Keat said: “We neither expected a tough nor a favourable draw. The challenge in the doubles is quite open and it is never easy from the early rounds.”
Top seeds Kien Keat-Boon Heong are in the same quarter with China’s Chai Biao-Zhang Nan and South Koreans Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung.
“We will probably meet the Chinese (third ranked) pair in the third round. This will be an important match for us,” said Kien Keat.
“A win in a confident manner will certainly give us extra motivation against the Koreans if we meet them in the quarter-finals. We will give our best to go as far as possible in the championships.”
Besides Kien Keat-Boon Heong, the other players for the world championships who left yesterday for the stint in Bath were Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Wong Mew Choo, Lydia Cheah and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.
Accompanying them were sparring partners Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, Lok Chong Chieh, Mak Hee Chun, Tan Wee Kiong and Lim Khim Wah and coaches Pang Cheh Chang, Jeremy Gan and Rashid Sidek.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 2:53 PM.
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