Their best is not good enough
V Shem, Wee Kiong need to re-evaluate their commitment to the sport
KUALA LUMPUR: What national men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong really need is a reality check.
National doubles head coach Paulus Firman wants his players to evaluate themselves and find an answer whether they have done enough in their bid to revive their dwindling fortunes.
The underperforming shuttlers have been issued an ultimatum by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to buck up by next April or face the axe.
The world No. 15 completed the season on a dismal note as they have now gone two years without a title.
They have suffered five early exits since September and it does not augur well ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifying period starting in May next year.
Paulus, who took charge of V Shem-Wee Kiong, is clearly feeling the heat too.
“I think it has come to the point where they must ask themselves if they have done enough to improve on their current situation,” said Paulus.
“I’ve no issue with their commitments during training. But I’m not sure if that’s the best coming from them because the results clearly suggest otherwise.
“They may think they’ve given their 100 per cent. But have they tried pushing themselves beyond the limit?
“Perhaps their best is probably not good enough. I hope they realise that and try to give more in everything – work rate, desire, commitment and so on. Like it or not, they need to.”
Paulus is not giving up on them as he has until next April to change their fortunes.
“I still have faith in them, I have no doubt about it because they have been there before,” said Paulus.
“They would not have become world No. 1, won the Rio Olympic Games silver and bagged titles at the Denmark Open and World Superseries Finals in 2016 if they weren’t a great pair.
“They need a turning point early in the season next year. It doesn’t have to be a win, even by finishing as the All-England runners-up will do their confidence a world of good.”
Paulus said the duo would not have been under immense pressure if they had won a medal from either the World Championships in Nanjing or the Asian Games in Jakarta.
They were defeated narrowly by eventual champions on both occasions, losing 21-16, 15-21, 20-22 to China’s Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen in the last 16 at the world meet and 20-22, 19-21 to Indonesia’s Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo-Marcus Fernaldi Gideon in the last eight of the Asiad.
Paulus believes he is still the right man to get V Shem-Wee Kiong out of the rut.
“As their coach, it’s my responsibility to help them,” he said. “Obviously, I’m feeling the pressure too, but that’s part and parcel of my job and I enjoy the challenge.”
They may think they’ve given their 100 per cent. But have they tried pushing themselves beyond the limit? Paulus Firman