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Doubles Pairs, What A Letdown - Razif

From Dan Guen Chin

JAKARTA, June 25 (Bernama) -- The performance of the Malaysian men's doubles pair at the Indonesian Open here has been a huge disappointment.

So said Razif Sidek, a member of the 1992 Thomas Cup winning team and an All-England men's doubles winner with younger brother Jalani in 1982.

Razif the former National head coach who was at the Istora Senayan, venue of the championship, took the Malaysians to task over their performances, or rather the lack of it, at the championship.

The challenge of Mohamad Fairuzizuan Tazari/Ong Soon Hock, Hoon Tien How/Zakri Latiff ended in the first round while 2007 All England winners Tan Boon Heong/Koo Kien Keat fell in the quarter-finals to an unknown Indonesian pair.

"I saw them play and it was clear that they were not mentally and physically prepared for the championship," said Razif.

Razif, who is now a sports commentator, added that the physical state of the Malaysians was another vital aspect which needed to be looked into.

"They looked so tired on court and I wonder why. Even Kien Keat and Boon Heong who are a world class pair are just not up to it physically.

"Every shot they play, they seem to be under pressure. That's not good," added Razif.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is well aware of the men's doubles shortcomings in Jakarta.

Boon Heong is going to partner Tien How instead at the Kedah Open in Alor Star in mid July in an attempt to introduce a breath of fresh air into the Kien Keat-Boon Heong combination.

"Maybe that's what they need. A slight change in their routine could probably make them more adaptable and responsive to all kinds of challenges," said BAM's High Performance director Datuk James Selvaraj.

-- BERNAMA

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