EE YI REAPS DOUBLE BENEFITS FROM V SHEM
Ee Yi a changed man and player after short partnership with V Shem
KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles shuttler Teo Ee Yi believes he is a changed man and player after a four-month partnership with the experienced Goh V Shem.
And Ee Yi hopes to put into practice what he has learnt from his senior at the Thailand Masters in Bangkok from Jan 9-14 and the Malaysian Masters at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil from Jan 16-21.
He will resume his partnership with Ong Yew Sin for the two tournaments.
“I’m more mature now,” said the 24-yearold Ee Yi.
“It was a short stint with V Shem but I gained invaluable experience.
“We played in high-level tournaments and I was pushed to the limit.
“There is this renewed fighting spirit in me. I’m more determined to do better,” he said.
Ee Yi played in five international tournaments with V Shem since September.
They reached the quarter-finals of the Bitburger Open in Germany in October and gave top ranked players a run for their money before losing in the early rounds of the Superseries in China and Hong Kong in November.
Ee Yi said that he had no complaints about the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) about pairing him with new partners.
“The coaches are trying their best to find the best partnership. They know best. My responsibility as a player is to give my unwavering attention to being a better player.
“The short break has whetted my appetite to achieve more with Yew Sin. I know we have the potential to take our game to a higher level,” said Ee Yi, who with Yew Sin, is ranked world No. 24.
The duo are now the national No. 2 pair behind world No. 18 and Rio Olympic silver medallists V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong.
Malaysia are counting on both pairs to deliver the goods at the Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 20-27. The qualifiers will be held during the Asia Badminton Championships in Alor Setar, Kedah, from Feb 6-11.
Ee Yi added: “Yew Sin and I are looking forward to playing in the Thomas Cup for the first time. This will be our first major tournament next year and we want to do well.”
Ee Yi and Yew Sin have won one title together at the second-tier Bitburger Open in Germany since they played together in 2016.