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Dreaded debut for Hee Chun

KUALA LUMPUR: The draw for the Asian Games has not been kind to debutant Mak Hee Chun.
But it has not dampened his spirits.

Hee Chun will be partnering Tan Wee Kiong at the Asiad in Guangzhou next month in both the individual and team events.

In the individual event, the duo have been drawn in the same quarter as former world and Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia.

They have a tricky first round match against Japan’s Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa.
“For a debutant like me, it is certainly a tough draw. We never expected it to be easy anyway,” said Hee Chun.

“Wee Kiong and I will be very satisfied if we can beat one or two top names in the Asiad. That is our goal for now.”


As for the team event, Hee Chun said: “We will be playing as the second doubles (behind Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong) and we hope to do well. It will be a great experience for us.”

With only one point expected from the singles department through Lee Chong Wei, it is important for both the doubles pairs to deliver if Malaysia are to win a medal in the team event at the Asiad.

The other singles players in the team are Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Liew Daren and Chan Kwong Beng.
As a precursor to the Asiad, the 20-year-old Hee Chun is hoping for a timely boost when he heads to Odense with Wee Kiong for the Denmark Open from Oct 26-31.

“This is the first major Super Series event for me. Hopefully, Wee Kiong and I will reach at least the quarter-finals. It will put us in good stead for the Asian Games,” said Hee Chun.
They duo are drawn to play against Hong Kong’s Yohan Hadikusumo Wiratama-Wong Wai Hong in the first round.

If they win, they should go all the way to the last eight for a probable meeting against top seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark.

“We lost to the Hong Kong pair in the German Open and all we want is revenge,” said Hee Chun.
“Our training under coach Tan Kim Her has been going well. We are more relaxed and there is no pressure on us. Instead, our coach has been giving us a lot encouragement to raise our game.”

Since training under Kim Her, both Hee Chun-Wee Kiong have been playing well and showing good courage on court.

They have not won any titles yet but, judging by their determination, it won’t be long before they achieve a breakthrough.

By RAJES PAUL


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