Soon Kit: More tournaments for new pairings first
CHEAH Soon Kit is in no hurry to see significant results from two of Malaysia’s scratch pairs - Goh V Shem-Teo Ee Yi and Tan Wee Kiong-Ong Yew Sin.
In fact, the national men’s doubles head coach is positive for the new pairings to come good with more tournament exposure.
At the French Open last week, both pairs crashed out in the second round, but they were up against World No 4 Liu ChengZhang Nan of China and World No 2 Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark respectively.
Soon Kit, currently in Saarbrucken, Germany for the Bitburger Open, said: “It is still very early to say anything as the French Open was their first tournament together.
“If you ask me, I would say it was a positive start for them, despite crashing out in the second round because we can see where they stand in comparison to some of the world’s best.
“Of course there is a lot of work, especially when it comes to adapting to their new partnership and style of play.”
On Thursday, V Shem-Ee Yi played China’s He Jiting-Tan Qiang of China in a late second round match, while Wee KiongYew Sin faced local qualifiers Peter Lang-Thomas Legleitner.
Independent duo Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Ooi Zi Heng took on third seeds Bodin Isara-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet of Thailand.
On his short term goal for the new combinations, following the split of 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medallists V Shem-Wee Kiong, Soon Kit added: “For now, we are working hard on building the pairs. At this stage, we are very much focused on any shortcoming.”
Also involved in a late second round tie were women’s doubles Soong Fie Cho-Tee Jing Yi who took on second seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai of Thailand, while in the men’s singles third round, Lee Zii Jia was up against sixth seed Qiao Bin of China and Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin played China’s Huang Yuxiang. Fabian Peter