French Open: Koo-Tan shown the exit

Koo Kien Keat (left) and Tan Boon Heong lost to Mads Conrad Petersen-Jonas Rasmussen 21-16, 21-19 in the second round of the French Open in Paris yesterday.

KOO Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong again failed to impress under their new coach, Pang Cheh Chang, when they were shown the exit in the men's doubles second round of the French Open in Paris yesterday. Kien Keat-Boon Heong, the fifth seeds, lost 21-16, 21-19 to Denmark's World No 13 Mads Conrad-Petersen-Jonas Rasmussen.

The defeat is a huge blow to the World No 5 in their hope of reviving their fading careers.

Last week, the former Asian Games champions were beaten in the first round of the Denmark Open.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong, considered potential medallists at next year's London Olympic Games, switched coaches last month from Rexy Mainaky to Cheh Chang but so far the pair have failed to show improvement.

The former All England winners will have to work harder in training if they hope to remain as one of the best pairs in the world.

Compatriot Lee Chong Wei, who is eyeing his seventh title of the season, routed France's Brice Leverdez 21-11, 21-13 in 31 minutes in the second round.

The World No 1, who is playing in his 10th 'Open' competition this year, will face either Vietnam's seventh seed Nguyen Tien Minh or unseeded Indonesia Tommy Sugiarto, in today's quarter-finals.

Sea Games-bound Liew Daren put up a respectable performance before bowing out to China's former world champion Chen Jin 21-17, 21-17.

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