It’s only gold that matters
V Shem and Wee Kiong are in good stead to deliver title, says coach Jeremy
KUALA LUMPUR: National men’s doubles coach Jeremy Gan expects nothing but the gold from Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong at the World Badminton Championships which begins in Scotland today.
“They’ve been in good form in training over the last few days in Glasgow. The facilities here are good,” said Jeremy yesterday.
“V Shem-Wee Kiong can win if they play true to their form.”
The tournament begins at the Emirates Arena today but V ShemWee Kiong will only get down to business on Wednesday as they have a first-round bye.
Rio Olympic silver medallists V Shem-Wee Kiong will face the winners of the first-round clash between India’s Manu Attri-Reddy B. Sumeeth and South Koreans Chung Eui-seokKim Duk-young.
The opening round matches are spread over two days – today and tomorrow.
The Malaysians in action today are Zulfadli Zulkiffli (against Artem Pchtarov of Ukraine in the men’s singles); Yap Rui Chen (against Chen Hsuan-yu of Australia in the women’s singles) and K. YogendranPrajakta Sawant (against Taiwanese Lu Ching-yao-Chiang Kai-hsin in the mixed doubles).
Three-time runner-up Lee Chong Wei will be in action tomorrow in the men’s singles first round, together with Low Juan Shen-Chooi Kah Ming (men’s doubles) and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (mixed doubles).
World No. 5 V Shem-Wee Kiong have failed to hit the heights since ending last season with a title at the World Superseries Finals in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
The duo have come under fire as they have yet to reach the semis of any Superseries meets this year.
“V Shem-Wee Kiong know they are here to win the title. This is their chance to prove themselves,” said Jeremy.
V Shem-Wee Kiong are in the same half as top seeds Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen of China, the favourites here, fourth seeds Takeshi KamuraKeigo Sonoda of Japan, seventh seeds Mads Conrad-Petersen-Mads Pieler Kolding of Denmark and ninth seeds Ricky Karanda Suwardi-Angga Pratama of Indonesia.
Second seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark are in the lower half with title contenders and early favourites Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia (third seeds), Chai BiaoHong Wei of China (sixth seeds) and Liu Cheng-Zhang Nan of China (eighth seeds).