Sunday April 15, 2007
Rexy unhappy with Kien Keat-Boon Heong’s performance
By RIZAL ABDULLAH
JOHOR BARU: National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky blew his top after watching Malaysian hotshots Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong limp into the men’s doubles final of the US$125,000 Asian Badminton Championships at the Indoor Stadium here yesterday.
“This is the worst performance by the duo since they were paired together,” said Rexy after the All-England and Swiss Open champions struggled past Taiwan’s Tsai Chia-hsin-Hu Chung-hsien, coming back from a game down to win 18-21, 21-16, 21-10 in 44 minutes.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong will take on top seeds and defending champions Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in today’s final.
“Kien Keat and Boon Heong did not move the shuttle all over the court. They also allowed their opponents to anticipate their moves. They need to do a lot better. I am not satisfied. They should focus on the game and not play to the gallery.
“Kien Keat was playing to the gallery. This should not happen in a game. He should stay focused.”
When asked about the final today where Kien Keat and Boon Heong will be up against Wan Wah-Tan Fook in a much anticipated battle between the Malaysians, Rexy said: “I will let them fight it out. Let the best pair win.”
Kien Keat, 22, made a lot of mistakes against the Taiwanese and this affected Boon Heong’s play and they lost the first game 18-21.
However, the Malaysians recovered mainly because their opponents also started making unforced errors and they won the next two games at 21-16, 21-10.
Said Kien Keat: “I admit that this is our worst performance. I was not focused. We were slow on the court today. We hope to give a better show in the final.
“Losing to a Malaysian pair in the final is much better than losing to a foreign pair. But we promise to give our best in the final.”
Kien Keat-Boon Heong won the first Asian Games gold for Malaysia in 36 years in Doha last December.
In January, the pair were victorious in the Malaysian Open, the opening leg of the inaugural Super Series.
Last month the pair became the first Malaysians in 25 years to win the All-England in Birmingham and the Swiss Open in Basel.
Wan Wah-Tan Fook were also stretched to the limit in their 11-21, 21-13, 21-15 win over compatriots Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari in 40 minutes.
For the final, Wan Wah said: “Kien Keat and Boon Heong are fast and aggressive. We lost to them in the Korean Open. “But we are the defending Asian champions and this will be the driving force for us in our bid to retain the title. There is nothing to lose.”
Rexy unhappy with Kien Keat-Boon Heong’s performance
By RIZAL ABDULLAH
JOHOR BARU: National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky blew his top after watching Malaysian hotshots Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong limp into the men’s doubles final of the US$125,000 Asian Badminton Championships at the Indoor Stadium here yesterday.
“This is the worst performance by the duo since they were paired together,” said Rexy after the All-England and Swiss Open champions struggled past Taiwan’s Tsai Chia-hsin-Hu Chung-hsien, coming back from a game down to win 18-21, 21-16, 21-10 in 44 minutes.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong will take on top seeds and defending champions Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in today’s final.
“Kien Keat and Boon Heong did not move the shuttle all over the court. They also allowed their opponents to anticipate their moves. They need to do a lot better. I am not satisfied. They should focus on the game and not play to the gallery.
“Kien Keat was playing to the gallery. This should not happen in a game. He should stay focused.”
When asked about the final today where Kien Keat and Boon Heong will be up against Wan Wah-Tan Fook in a much anticipated battle between the Malaysians, Rexy said: “I will let them fight it out. Let the best pair win.”
Kien Keat, 22, made a lot of mistakes against the Taiwanese and this affected Boon Heong’s play and they lost the first game 18-21.
However, the Malaysians recovered mainly because their opponents also started making unforced errors and they won the next two games at 21-16, 21-10.
Said Kien Keat: “I admit that this is our worst performance. I was not focused. We were slow on the court today. We hope to give a better show in the final.
“Losing to a Malaysian pair in the final is much better than losing to a foreign pair. But we promise to give our best in the final.”
Kien Keat-Boon Heong won the first Asian Games gold for Malaysia in 36 years in Doha last December.
In January, the pair were victorious in the Malaysian Open, the opening leg of the inaugural Super Series.
Last month the pair became the first Malaysians in 25 years to win the All-England in Birmingham and the Swiss Open in Basel.
Wan Wah-Tan Fook were also stretched to the limit in their 11-21, 21-13, 21-15 win over compatriots Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari in 40 minutes.
For the final, Wan Wah said: “Kien Keat and Boon Heong are fast and aggressive. We lost to them in the Korean Open. “But we are the defending Asian champions and this will be the driving force for us in our bid to retain the title. There is nothing to lose.”
