Tuesday January 15, 2013
V Shem-Khim Wah’s temporary split has positive effect on partnership
By KNG ZHENG GUAN
NATIONAL doubles shuttler Goh V Shem believes that his temporary split with Lim Khim Wah has done their partnership a world of good and they are now looking forward to higher conquests.
V Shem, who turns 24 in May, formed a solid partnership with Khim Wah back in 2011 and were tipped to become world beaters after reaching the highest rank of No. 21 in the world.
But problems soon arise with the duo and national doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her eventually split them up after the Singapore Open last June before reuniting them last month.
And V Shem-Khim Wah instantly repaid the faith shown in them by making the quarter-finals of the Korean Open last week.
V Shem believes that split has made him a better player. He has set high targets this year – to break into the top 10 rankings and to reach the semi-finals of the Maybank Malaysian Open which begins today at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
“We certainly lost a lot of time in that six months but we have learned a lot in the process. Besides, we are still young and it’s not too late for us to make an impact,” said V Shem.
“During the split, I managed to learn a lot more about Khim Wah - his strengths and weaknesses.
“Previously when I was paired with him, we were like strangers sometimes and couldn’t complement each other ... thus leading to misunderstandings in the partnership.
“Now that I’m more familiar with how he plays and his strengths, I will try to combine my own strengths to make our partnership more solid.
“Right now, we definitely need to be more consistent and cut down on our errors.
“We’re looking forward to following in the footsteps of our team-mates – Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong – by breaking into the top 10 this year.”
Thien How-Wee Kiong are now ranked No. 9 in the world while V Shem-Khim Wah have slipped to No. 37.
“It will be tough but not impossible. And for that, we’re hoping to make the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open,” added V Shem.
V Shem and Khim Wah will face Denmark’s Rasmus Bonde-Mads Conrad Petersen in the first round tomorrow. If they win, their second round opponents are likely to be team-mates and top seeds Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.
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