World Junior Champs Nelson And Teo Out To Break The Jinx

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi (pic) are determined to break the hoodoo of being world junior champions.

None of the previous six Malaysian winning pairs have made the transition to senior ranks, but Wei Keat-Ee Yi believe they have the quality and the will to succeed where the others failed.

Gan Wye Teck-Chan Chong Ming (winners in 1996), Chan Chong Ming-Teo Kok Seng (1998), Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong (2004), Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang (2008), Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han (2009) and Ow Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng (2010) all failed to make the grade. It was either a case of fractured styles or fractured relationships. Either way, the partnerships never stood the test of time beyond the junior years .



But Wei Keat-Ee Yi, who won the world crown last year, firmly believe that their friendship and understanding will prevail. They are confident that they can build on their two-year partnership to become Malaysia’s next top men’s doubles pair.

The duo were promoted to the national senior team late last year and have been training under chief coach Tan Kim Her and his assistants, Rosman Razak and South Korean Yoo Yong-sung, for the past one month.

Wei Keat, 19, said they were comfortable working with the three coaches and were looking forward to playing in more tournaments this year.

“We can cope with the change in the level of play. It is much more demanding but we are determined to succeed and become serious contenders,” said Wei Keat.

“The coaches work on different aspects of our game. Kim Her focuses on our court management while Yong-sung works on improving our speed. Rosman gives us input on our technique. We are learning a lot from them.”

Wei Keat-Ee Yi want to make an instant impact with a breakthrough performance in the Malaysia Open, having failed to get past the qualifying tournament in the previous two editions.

“The draw is quite challenging and it will be an achievement if we make it to the main draw this time. But we have to beat the odds if we want to improve on our rankings. We are currently ranked 100th in the world and our aim is hit the top 80 bracket by the end of this year ,” said Wei Keat.

In the qualifying tournament, the duo will have to overcome two strong pairs - Liao Min-chun-Wu Chun-wei of Taiwan and fourth seeds Patipat Chalardchalem-Nipitphon Puangpuapech of Thailand - to advance.

If they succeed, they will take on Indonesia’s top pair Mohd Ahsan-Bona Septano in the opening round of the US$400,000 tournament at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil next week.

“Our ultimate goal is of course to be the country’s top pair. It was great winning the world junior title but all that is in the past now. It’s the future that matters.”

It cannot happen fast enough. With Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong struggling, the country needs Wei Keat-Ee Yi to power up fast.