Glory days: Koo Kien Keat (right) and Tan Boon Heong won the All-England and the Asian Games men’s doubles gold in 2006.
PETALING JAYA: Focus on your dreams, achieve your desired results, and stay away from controversies.
That is the sound Merdeka Day advice given by former men’s doubles shuttler Koo Kien Keat who wished to rejuvenate the Malaysian players’ spirits after their forgettable finish at the World Championships in Copenhagen last week.
“In the world of sports, it all comes down to results. If you are consistently performing well, even when dealing with difficulties, your achievements speak for themselves and quiet the doubters,” Kien Keat posted on his Instagram account.
“Athletes must substantiate their worth through tangible achievements. When you’re unsure or feel like you’re not making progress, just concentrate on yourself and don’t focus on unnecessary things.
“Avoid getting caught up in controversies which will take up most of your attention and positive energy and it is also hard to stay focused and achieve good results.
“Remember why you started and focus on the dream you want to achieve.
“Prioritise on your physical training while harmonising it with your mental preparation for the upcoming tournaments.
“The world is cruel and only the strong ones could stand till the end.”
At the world meet, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik settled for bronze as South Koreans Seo Seung-jae-Kang Min-hyuk went on to be crowned champions on Sunday. Women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and mixed doubles Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei went as far as the quarter-finals while men’s singles Lee Zii Jia fell in the third round.
However, Kien Keat’s message should spur them to pick themselves up and focus on the next tournament, the Asian Games in Hangzhou (Sept 23-Oct 8).
Kien Keat-Boon Heong made an instant revelation in 2006 by winning the All-England and the Asian Games men’s doubles gold. They also became world No. 1 on several occasions and they also went on to add a silver medal in the 2010 Asiad and the 2010 World Championships.
Boon Heong said he was willing to be outspoken about players’ performance as he wants the current batch to become better players.
“As a senior, I continuously share my experience and teach them so that they can do better. It’s because of my passion (for badminton) and while I can’t say I’m 100% correct, there may be some things that can help a player,” stated Boon Heong in his Instagram account.
“Some even have said that I have not won a world title, therefore, I have no right to speak up.
“I’m not afraid to speak the truth and of the people who want to criticise me. It shows that people are paying attention to what I’m saying.
“My advice to the shuttlers is to focus on training and competitions and, when the chance arises to become an Olympic or a world champion, just grab it.”
