Back-up pairs show promise

Ming-Low Juan Shen and women’s doubles Lim Yin Loo-Yap Cheng Wen won their first titles at the Indonesia International Challenge.

Mixed doubles Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing have also been consistent, winning two titles (Vietnam Open and Thailand Open) after reaching six finals this year while backup men’s doubles Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani who have won one title (Swiss International), are slowly moving up the world rankings.

“It has indeed been an awesome weekend but what’s more promising is that our shuttlers have been improving very nicely over the past couple of months.

“These are not results that were obtained overnight. The shuttlers themselves are slowing seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and they know that they can’t just stick around and not deliver results.

“There is some pressure on the coaches as well and I must say people like (Cheah) Soon Kit has been doing an excellent job with the juniors.

“The men’s doubles department, for example, are also looking up to players like Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, especially after their achievement at the Rio Olympic Games.

“We are definitely on track and I am confident these players will achieve their targets of breaking into the world top 20 soon,” said Frost.

The elite players, namely V ShemWee Kiong and mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, have also been enjoying a good run and currently occupy the World No 2 and No 3 spot respectively.

“These achievements must serve as a signal to other players to buck up and start showing more commitment. We have made some changes where certain players have been moved around.

“I have no doubt that these changes will only serve them well and soon enough we will have a couple up there within the (world) top 20 bracket.” By Fabian Peter