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Thursday July 30, 2009

World Championships-bound pairs go down tamely

By RAJES PAUL

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s World Championships-bound men’s doubles pairs were wiped out in the Mini Olympic Games yesterday.

And the tame defeats of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara yesterday drew a mixed response from national doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky.

Fairuzizuan-Zakry were stunned 18-21, 14-21 by back-up shuttlers Goh Wei Shem-Vountus Indra Mawan in the quarter-finals while Kien Keat-Boon Heong went down 19-21, 17-21 to former internationals Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng in the semi-finals.

Chong Ming-Choon Eng will take on the other independent pair of Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in the final.

Tan Fook-Wan Wah beat Lim Khim Wah-Chan Peng Soon 21-17, 21-16 in the quarter-finals, thus avenging their loss to the youngsters in the final of the Thailand Open on Sunday.

In the semi-finals, Tan Fook-Wan Wah ended the gallant run of Wei Shem-Vountus.

Rexy, though disappointed with the exit of the two BAM pairs, was quietly confident of his charges ahead of the world meet in Hyderabad, India, next week.

He was particularly irked by the way Fairuzizuan-Zakry capitulated.

“The younger players showed greater motivation than the top players. Probably, Zakry and Fairuzizuan did not go all out because this is not a big tournament. But this should not be the mentality of world class players,” said Rexy.

Defeated: Mixed doubles pair Ng Hui Lin (left) and Koo Kien Keat in action during their Mini Olympic semi-final match against Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying. Hui Lin-Kien Keat lost 23-25, 21-19, 17-21. — Bernama

“(Veterans) Chong Ming-Choon Eng and Tan Fook-Wan Wah took advantage of this Mini Olympics as part of their preparations for the world meet and they gave it their all.

“Zakry-Fairuzizuan are the more experienced pair but they allowed the youngsters to take control of the game. They played with emotion.

“I think Koo and Tan did not play whole-heartedly and played as if it was a practice match. Maybe, they did held back so as not to risk getting injured before the next week’s world meet.”

Still, Rexy is optimistic of his charges’ chances in Hyderabad.

“Fairuzizuan-Zakry will have to know what went wrong today and work on their weaknesses before the world meet. The players need to know how to handle pressure,” he said.

“During my playing days, I lost to younger pairs during simulation before the Thomas Cup Finals. It can happen. What is important now is for the players to get it right at the world meet.”

There was also an upset in the mixed doubles yesterday when Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying stunned the more fancied Kien Keat-Ng Hui Lin yesterday to set up a meeting with Fairuzizuan-Wong Pei Tty in today’s final (which will start at 3pm).

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