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Tuesday November 3, 2009

Yao Han-Kah Ming won’t remain a pair for much longer

By LOGANATH VELLOO

ALOR SETAR: World junior boys’ doubles champions Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming will not stay together as a pair for much longer.

Yao Han and Kah Ming, who are from Malacca and Pahang respectively, came back from the dead to snatch a 19-21, 21-12, 23-21 victory over Indonesians Berry Angriayawan-Muhammad Ullinuha in the final at the Sultan Abdul Halim Indoor Stadium here on Sunday night.

It was Malaysia’s fifth boys’ doubles title in the championship series.

National juniors doubles coach Yap Kim Hock confirmed that he has to break up the partnership.

“If given a choice, I prefer to retain the pair as they have performed well since they teamed up after the Asian Juniors in July,” he said.

“But we need to start preparing for the next World Junior Championships in Mexico, which is just six months ahead.

“Yao Han is only 17 and he can compete but Kah Ming (18) is no longer eligible to take part (in the Under-19) championships. I need to find a new partner for Yao Han.”

Yao Han partnered Yew Hong Kheng in the Asian Juniors in Kuala Lumpur in July and they finished as the runners-up to Indonesians Angga Pratama-Rendy Sugiarto.

But Kim Hock made the bold move to split the pair after Hong Kheng suffered a dive in form after the championships.

He felt that the lanky Kah Ming would complement the energetic Yao Han well and the duo hit it off and went on to lift the world junior title in just three months together. En route to the title, they ousted top seeds Angga-Rendy 13-21, 21-15, 21-18 in the semi-finals.

“Although I have been paired up with many different partners over the years, I never felt as comfortable as playing alongside Yao Han,” said Kah Ming.

“We hit it off immediately on the court by forming a good understanding and the ability to cover for each other well.

“It still feels like a dream to have won the world junior title. Our confidence and never-say-die attitude were tremendous, especially when we were 16-20 down in the deciding game during the final.”

Before Yao Han-Kah Ming, the other successful Malaysian boys’ doubles pairs in the World Juniors were Chan Chong Ming-Jeremy Gan (1996), Chong Ming-Teo Kok Seng (1998), Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong (2004) and Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang (2008).

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