Tuesday November 3, 2009
Heavy playing schedule takes a toll on Kien Keat-Boon Heong
By LIM TEIK HUAT
PETALING JAYA: The strain of playing in too many tournaments is showing on Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and they may be asked to skip the upcoming Hong Kong Open.
The duo failed in their quest to secure back-to-back Super Series titles after going down 21-15, 15-21, 14-21 to Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan in the French Open final in Paris on Sunday.
The second seeded Malaysians took the first game in quick fashion but started to slow down and eventually allowed the Indonesians to romp to a successful defence of the title.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong had won the Denmark Open title the previous Sunday and national doubles coach Rosman Razak said that their defeat was not due to erratic form.
“Our pair’s reflexes were noticeably slower than Markis-Hendra,” said Rosman from Paris yesterday.
“The Indonesian pair lost in the quarter-finals in Denmark and they had more time to recover. It is hard to play the top pairs if you are not in your best physical condition.
“I think Kien Keat-Boon Heong were a bit exhausted.
“It is unsure whether they will go for the Hong Kong Open.
“I will need to discuss with the chief coach (Rexy Mainaky) when we go back.
“Whether they get to go will depend on their condition when they return to training later this week.”
Rosman added that it was important for Kien Keat-Boon Heong to have ample time to recover because they also have an assignment at the Laos SEA Games in December.
“The doubles pairs have a mission to secure gold for the country and we need them to prepare well,” he said.
Complicating things is the fact that Kien Keat-Boon Heong will feature in the Super Series Masters Finals scheduled for Dec 2-6 in Kuala Terengganu.
“It’s just before the SEA Games. They should qualify (for the Finals) even if they skip the Hong Kong Open as they have enough ranking points from the tournaments in Denmark and France,” said Rosman.
Sports Poll
- Koo-Tan seek fifth title after hammering Taiwanese
- Real Madrid leads in Spain as Barcelona slips up
- Wei Feng and Kwong Beng in all-Malaysian men’s singles final
- Delighted Jorgensen sets up final clash with Lin Dan
- Football: Blues go marching on
- No joy for Liverpool
- Federer and Nadal have score to settle at ATP Tour Finals
- Pacquiao vs Cotto the top bout of 2009
- Auxerre beats Monaco 2-0 to take French lead
- Bernard ends Malaysia’s 15-year wait for SEASA title
- Real Madrid leads in Spain as Barcelona slips up
- Auxerre beats Monaco 2-0 to take French lead
- Delighted Jorgensen sets up final clash with Lin Dan
- Nicol taken to the limit by Massaro
- Red Warriors are FAM’s top revenue earners
- IAAF keep mum over Semenya gender row
- Pacquiao vs Cotto the top bout of 2009
- Beach volleyball players put in extra hours for bid to get gold
- Trezeguet hit by injury again
- Football Results Worldwide
RSS
