Tuesday May 14, 2013
Wei Keat aims to make an impact in Thailand Grand Prix Gold
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will be represented by four world junior champions in the Thailand Grand Prix Gold in Bangkok from June 4-9.
And one of them – Nelson Heg Wei Keat – is yearning to make a significant impact.
Malaysia have entered 2011 boys’ doubles champions Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi and 2009 boys’ doubles winners Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming in the GP Gold but, to date, none has won since making the senior team.
The youngest pair – Wei Keat-Ee Yi – however, have shown positive signs. They nailed the Finnish International title last month and did well to nick the Dutch International title last year.
In the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold at Juara Stadium last month, the duo, both 20, went down in the opening round to Indonesians Ronald Alenader-Selvanus Geh.
“It was disappointing as Ee Yi and I were really prepared but we underestimated the Indonesian pair. They played well and we left it too late to catch up,” said Wei Keat.
“It has been one-and-half-year since we made the national team and we’e still searching for our first GP Gold title. We’ve been entered for the Thailand Open ... hopefully, we can go far,” said Wei Keat.
“We’re hopeful of breakthroughs and narrowing the gap on the top pairs in the country. China, South Korea and Indonesia have back-up pairs who are doing well and supporting their seniors ... we want to do the same.”
World No. 48 Wei Keat-Ee Yi are the country’s seventh ranked pair behind world No. 3 Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong (No. 7), Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem (No. 12), Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari (No. 14), Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen (No. 21) and Kah Ming-Yao Han (No. 30).
Besides Wei Keat-Ee Yi and Yao Han-Kah Ming, Malaysia also have several other representatives in the men’s doubles in Thailand. They include second seeds Zakry-Fairuzizuan, Teik Chai-Soon Hock, Tan Yip Jiun-Low Juan Shen, Kong Keat Zhen-Kok Zheng Yi, Tan Wee Gieen-Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid, Soong Joo Ven-Soo Tech Zhi, Mohd Hafiz Hashim-Mohd Razif Abdul Latif, Darren Isaac Devadass-Ong Yew Sin, Tan Aik Quan-Wong Fai Yin and Mohd Hafizi Hashim-Mohd Hafifi Hashim.
In the men’s singles, Malaysia will be banking on Tan Chun Seang, Malaysian Open GP Gold runner-up Goh Soon Huat, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, Loh Wei Sheng and Hafiz.
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