Korea Open: Doubles freefall continues

LEE Chong Wei cruised confidently in his title defence but a clueless Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong were blown out of the  Korea Open by home favourites Ko Sung Hyun-Lee Yong Dae in Seoul yesterday.
Chong Wei needed just 34 minutes to overcome Wong Wing Ki of Hong Kong 21-11, 21-18 to reach his fifth consecutive final in the Korea Open.
However, Kien Keat-Boon Heong are heading nowhere if their 21-17, 21-11 loss to Sung Hyun-Yong Dae is any indication.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong took a 1-0 lead in the first game but were never in control after that. When the Koreans led 10-1 in the second game, the Malaysians didn't have the stomach for a fightback.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong's performance hardly did any justice to their World No 2 ranking and national men's doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her will have to make some hard decisions if their erratic performance continues.
Their barren run in the Super Series has stretched to three years and they can expect the worst in the Malaysia Open where they are likely to meet Sung Hyun-Yong Dae in the semi-finals.
Kim Her, in an e-mail from Seoul, stated he has not given up hope on Kien Keat-Boon Heong.
"Tactically, Kien Keat-Boon Heong are still better than them (Sung Hyun-Yong Dae). The shuttle is slow in this tournament and our players must be mentally very strong to beat them," said Kim Her.
"Sung Hyun has been getting better in every tournament and Yong Dae doesn't have to cover him so much. They are the pair to watch out for in the major events and also the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
"Hopefully, Kien Keat-Boon Heong can come back strongly in the Malaysia Open next week. Their target is the All England (in March) and the World Championships (in Guangzhou in August)."
Chong Wei, who won the Korea Open in 2010 and 2012, will meet China's Du Pengyu in the final today.
Pengyu, who beat Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro 21-12, 21-17 in 50 minutes, will be in a buoyant mood against Chong Wei after having beaten the Malaysian in the World Super Series Finals last month.
Courtesy of New Straits Times