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Malaysia may have to pin Thomas Cup hopes on men’s doubles


PETALING JAYA: Malaysia may have to depend more on the men’s doubles in the Thomas Cup Finals following the lack of depth in the singles.
And based on the outcome of the Malaysian Open, the doubles department showed that the country could ride on their strength.
Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong underlined their status as the best in the country by nailing the title in their first tournament of the year.

In the absence of the national No. 1s from Indonesia, Denmark and China, Kien Keat-Boon Heong lived up to their top billing.
And two Malaysian national back-up pairs – Ong Soon Hock-Hoon Thien How and Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong – showed that they can be groomed to become much stronger with breakthrough performances in the home Open last week.
Soon Hock-Thien How dumped the Korean Open champions Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae of South Korea in the opening round while Hee Chun-Wee Kiong upstaged veteran compatriots Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah.


Malaysia also have Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Lim Khim Wah-Chan Peng Soon in their ranks but both pairs fell short of expectations in Bulit Jalil.
Unlike the big pool of talent for men’s doubles, Malaysia’s only significant player in the men’s singles is Lee Chong Wei.
And based on the lack of depth, Malaysia have no choice but to win the two points from the doubles match and one in the singles in their bid to regain the world men’s team title they last won in 1992.
The Finals will be held at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from May 9-16.
Currently, China have the most balanced side with strength in both the singles and doubles.
National doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky was happy that several back-up pairs made their presence felt in the home Open.

“It was good to see Mak-Tan and Hoon-Ong coming through at the Malaysian Open. We hope that they will continue to do well,” he said.
“It is sad that Fairuzizuan and Zakry lost but there is time for us to work on their game and confidence.
“I am happy that we are not only focusing on the elite but our hard work to produce future players are also bearing fruit. We hope that our doubles players will be able to mount strong challenges in the Thomas Cup Finals.”



THE STAR

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