PETALING JAYA: National doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her has refused to blame his charges for their underwhelming performances at the recent competitions in Europe.

All the men’s doubles pairs failed to shine in the All-England, German and Swiss Opens. The best results were quarter-final appearances by world No. 7 Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong at the All-England and world No. 15 Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah at the Swiss Open.

The biggest flop was world No. 2 Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, who were beaten in the All-England second round by Thailand’s Maneepong Jongjit-Nipitphon Puangpuapech.

“Honestly, I thought the only ones who had a poor European outing was Kien Keat-Boon Heong,” said Kim Her.

“Thien How-Wee Kiong reached the quarter-finals of the All-England for the first time and that is an achievement. We can’t put too much expectations on them yet.

“As for V Shem-Khim Wah, they did all right but they will need to work a lot harder if they want to earn a spot in the World Championships. They must also be ready to face the pressure and handle it well.”

A country can have three pairs for the World Championships in Guangzhou in August if all three are in the top 24. Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari are currently the fourth-ranked Malaysian pair at No. 16.

“Currently, I think the only pair in danger of missing the cut is V Shem-Khim Wah. There is a possibility that Zakry-Fairuzizuan can overtake them in the next few months,” said Kim Her.

“As for Kien Keat-Boon Heong, we are already trying everything to help them. Now, it’s up to them to motivate themselves. Of course, I will sit down with Paulus (Firman) to discuss about our next step to help them,” added Kim Her.

Meanwhile in the Swiss Open, China’s Wang Zhengming stunned compatriot and top seed Du Pengyu to win his first-ever senior title.

Zhengming, the 2008 world junior champion was in top form as he racked an impressive 21-18, 21-18 win over world No.3 Pengyu.

In mixed doubles, Malaysian Open champions Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen picked up their second title of the year after beating China’s Zhang Nan-Tang Jinhua 22-20, 21-19.

In women’s singles, Thai youngster Inthanon Ratchanok continued her fine showing by reaching her second successive final. The All-England runner-up will face China’s Wang Shixian for the title.

Results

Semi-finals

Men’s singles: Du Pengyu (Chn) bt Hu Yun (Hkg) 21-8, 17-21, 21-14; Wang Zhengming (Chn) bt Jan O Jorgensen (Den) 18-21, 21-7, 21-13.

Men’s doubles: Ko Sung-hyun-Lee Yong-dae (Kor) bt Chris Adcock-Andrew Ellis (Eng) 21-19, 21-19; Chai Biao-Hong Wei (Chn) bt Alvent Yulianto-Markis Kido (Ina) 17-21, 21-9, 22-20.

Women’s singles: Inthanon Ratchanok (Tha) bt Yui Hashimoto (Jpn) 19-21, 21-10, 21-13; Wang Shixian (Chn) bt Saina Nehwal (Ind) 21-11, 10-21, 21-9.

Women’s doubles: Jung Kyung-eun-Kim Ha-na (Kor) bt Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl (Den) 21-19, 21-17.

Mixed doubles: Zhang Nan-Tang Jinhua (Chn) bt Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (Ina) 21-17, 19-21, 21-10.

Final

Men’s singles: Wang Zhengming (Chn) bt Du Pengyu (Chn) 21-18, 21-18.

Mixed doubles: Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen (Den) bt Zhang Nan-Tang Jinhua (Chn) 22-20, 21-19.

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