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Tuesday June 28, 2011

Boon Heong not pressing the panic button despite poor results


PETALING JAYA: The results have not been that outstanding for Malaysia in the doubles department so far but shuttler Tan Boon Heong (pic) is not pressing the panic button just yet.

The 24-year-old Boon Heong is still confident that his six-year partnership with Koo Kien Keat will bear fruit at the World Championships, which will be held in London from Aug 8-14.

World number four Boon Heong-Kien Keat had a last chance to end their Super Series title drought last week but they failed to get a timely boost ahead of the world meet when they crashed out in the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Open.

It was disappointing as they have not won any Super Series titles since the Malaysia Open January last year.

There have been some good results but their inconsistent performances had raised some concerns on whether they could reach at least the final in the world championships for the second year in a row.

The duo, who experienced a poor run about the same period of time last year, surprised everyone when they went all the way to the final at the last year’s world meet in Paris before going down to Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China.

“We were in the same boat last year. There were no results to show but we rose to the occasion at the world meet.

“We have the same hunger to make an impact in the world meet and we will go all out to do well again,” said Boon Heong.

“The results in recent tournaments will only spur us to do even better. Kien Keat and I have to improve some areas of our game. If we get that right, we will be able to give a more consistent performances against our opponents.”

Besides Kien Keat-Boon Heong, South Koreans Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung are also experiencing a drop in form. The duo were sent packing by Indonesian youngsters Angga Pratama-Ryan Agung Saputra in the second round of the Indonesia Open.

China, however, will pose a big challenge to the rest of the world if the performances of Cai Yun-Haifeng and Chai Biao-Guo Zhengdong is anything to go by. In the Indonesia Open, China made it a rare occasion when Cai Yun-Haifeng defeated Chai Biao-Zhengdong in an all-China men’s doubles final.

Boon Heong said that all pairs would be out to peak during the world meet.

“The past results do not hold water when it comes to the world championships. The race is wide open in the men’s doubles and we still have a chance as anyone else out there. Koo and I will give our full attention in our preparation for the world meet,” he added.

Besides Kien Keat-Boon Heong, Malaysia will also be represented by Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Hoon Thien How in the world meet.

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