New hurdle for Koo-Tan

KOO Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong's vulnerabilities were glaringly exposed by new South Korean combinations in Europe but national doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her expects them to overcome a new test from Indonesian combination Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan in the China Open on Nov 13-18.

South Korea have reshuffled their pairs following the retirement of Chung Jae Sung after the London Olympics and Kien Keat-Boon Heong were on the receiving end against Yoo Yeon Seong-Shin Bael Cheol and Ko Sung Hyun-Lee Yong Dae over the last month.
Yeon Seong-Baek Cheol defeated Kien Keat-Boon Heong in the Denmark Open final while Sung Hyun-Yong Dae overcame the Malaysian pair in the last eight en route to winning the French Open crown on Sunday.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong also lost to the third ranked Korean combination of Kim Ki Jung-Kim Sa Rang in the Japan Open final in September and it will be a huge mental blow should Ahsan-Hendra shock them in a possible quarter-final clash in Shanghai.
The Malaysians should overcome Thailand's Patiphat Chalardchalaem-Nipitphon Puangpuapech in the first round and then face a tricky second round against China's Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan.
Should they win, Ahsan-Hendra will be up next and the Indonesians have the quality to trouble the struggling Kien Keat-Boon Heong.
"Kien Keat-Boon Heong did reasonably well in Europe although they didn't win any titles and I don't think Ahsan-Hendra are good enough to beat them," said Kim Her.
"Ahsan-Hendra didn't perform well in the French Open, where our second pair Tan Wee Kiong-Hoon Thien How to beat them.
"The Indonesians are not as strong as the Korean pairs. Sung Hyun-Yong Dae have a lot of quality but the two matches Kien Keat-Boon Heong played against them were very close.
"Kien Keat-Boon Heong should continue improving their world ranking and if they can win a title soon, the pressure will be off and I feel they will then play better.
"They have been given the opportunity until the (2013) World Championships and they must keep competing against the top pairs and also the new combinations.
"Nobody expected the Korean pairs to win the last three tournaments and if Kien Keat-Boon Heong try harder, winning a title is not too far off."
Kien Keat-Boon Heong don't have to worry about any of the Korean combinations until the final as they are all clustered in the bottom half with Olympic champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong's future is still not secure although the BA of Malaysia (BAM) threw them a lifeline until the World Championships but failure to land a super series title may force a rethink.
Soon to be appointed director of coaching Park Joo Bong may be pushed to do what his native South Korea have done -- introduce new pairs -- to strengthen their chances of winning an Olympic gold in 2016 if Kien Keat-Boon Heong keep firing blanks

NST