NSTP - e-media Badminton/ World Championships: Desperate search! Graig Nunis "WHAT now?" That is the question which will haunt doubles coach Yap Kim Hock as he watched the once feared pair of Lee Wan Wah-Choong Tan Fook reduced to also rans at the World Chamopionships. Bronze medallist in Seville two years ago, the pair were out played, out thought and out gunned by arch rivals Candra Wijaya-Sigit Budiarto for the eighth time in as many meetings. The Malaysian pair lost 15-7, 15-10 in 47 minutes but it was the manner of their defeat which left a bitter taste in the mouth. The pair are likely to point to a host of injuries which have hampered their careers but to have gone down without a semblance of a fight against the Indonesians is extremely disappointing. The fact that Tan Fook has announced he will quit after the SEA Games makes Kim Hock's job easier as he need not be the bad guy by axing the pair. His headache now will be finding a new pair in time for next year's Thomas Cup challenge. "The problem is, all our back-up pairs are still far behind the duo," lamented Kim Hock, himself a silver medallist at the 1997 World Championships. "I will now have to experiement with some of the younger players and give them more exposure. "It is a sad tale but one which has been plaguing the badminton scene for quite a while. "Malaysia have produced good doubles pairs but now have more top class singles players." Tan Fook, 27 and Wan Wah 28, have been a mainstay of the national team and while they have since been substituted as the top pair in the country by Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng, they have proven to be a reliable second string. But their latest set-back is likely to force a rethink and this is where Kim Hock, who worked his magic by turning Koo Kien Keat-Ong Soo Hock into Asian junior champions and Jack Toh-Tan Bin Shen's into silver medallist at the World Junior Championships, will have his work cut out.
The younger in fact getting less chance to compete in International matches. It take years for a double pair to be mature and reliable. You could see Korea sending their Asia Junior runners-up (forgot the name) to most tournaments with the seniors. How about M'sia? I got a felt that BAM(Badminton Association M'sia) is waiting to see some youngers creating upset by beating other higher class players, then they would have the trust on younger pairs. Instead, why not having some faith, and sending them regularly for international tournaments?
Well said. Truly well said. Exposure is the only way to improve. I don't have much faith in them (Choong-Lee) either.
I think they did that in the past but the results were not so good!! At some point, maybe it will be better to split these two up and pair them with the younger guys. At least the younger ones can have a better chance of getting past a couple of rounds and get more exposure.
