Boon Heong: We Need To Work Harder For The World Meet

ALOR SETAR: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong ended a 15-month barren run with the Malaysia Grand Prix Gold men’s doubles title.

But Boon Heong conceded that it was not all smooth sailing for them.

“We struggled throughout the week. We lived dangerously in every match against the lower ranked pairs before winning. Fortunately, we won but there is more work to be done,” he said.

Boon Heong-Kien Keat defeated Alven Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan of Indonesia in the final. And it was their easiest victory because Alven was injured and unable to play his best.

Boon Heong hoped that things would get better as they work together to restore their confidence, especially when the world championships in London is just three months away.

“We have to strengthen our hearts and minds to handle all kind of challenges,” he said.

“It is not only about having the skills but also the right mindset on court. If we can master this, we will be able to do well at the world championships.”

In the championships last year, Kien Keat-Boon Heong were beaten by China’s Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng in the final.

Currently, the other strong title contenders are South Korea’s Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung, Denmark’s Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen and Indonesia’s Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan.

And the Malaysians will also have to break away from the Japanese pairs, who have done well over the last one year to snap at their heels.

While hoping to restore their status on the international stage, Kien Keat-Boon Heong will also have to watch out for several younger compatriots.

It was heart-warming to see Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi and Vountus Indra Mawan-Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid doing well in the Malaysia GP Gold.

The Asian and world junior championship-bound Wei Keat-Ee Yi showed good qualities in the way they carried themselves before going down fighting to Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Ong Soon Hock while Vountus-Lutfi achieved a breakthrough in beating the ill-prepared Markis-Hendra.

There are several other pairs knocking on the door of the big stage, among them Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming, Lim Khim Wah-Goh Wei Shem, Mak Hee Chun, Tan Wee Kiong, Pang Zheng Lin and Yew Hong Kheng.