TIME TO EXPERIMENT

Soon Kit looking at trying out new pairings next year

MEN’S doubles coach Cheah Soon Kit has not ruled out the possibility of testing new combinations ahead of next year’s priority tournaments. Soon Kit brought up the idea of exploring scratch pairings after watching Tan Wee Kiong-Ong Yew Sin upset eighth seeds Lee Jhe Huei-Lee Yang of Taiwan 2116, 21-16 to reach the second round of the Hong Kong Open yesterday.

While Wee Kiong-Yew Sin got off to a winning start, compatriots Goh V ShemTeo Ee Yi were sent packing in the opening round following a 17-21, 21-10, 21-12 defeat to top seeds Gideon Marcus FernaldiKevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia.

The Hong Kong Open is only the fourth tournament for both newly formed pairs after V Shem and Wee Kiong decided to go separate ways in September.

“Both pairs are definitely playing better, but there’s still room for improvement. In terms of skill, I believe they can do better.

“We must also understand that both pairs are still new, so it can be slightly tricky for their opponents. We have to study these situations carefully.

“It is still too early to say, so we will test them in a few more tournaments before shifting our focus towards bigger challenges next season,” said Soon Kit.

On whether he would split the current scratch pairs, Soon Kit added: “Let’s just say we are open to all possibilities.”

Wee Kiong-Yew Sin will face the Indonesian and Malaysian combination of Hendra Setiawan and Tan Boo Heong today for a place in the quarter-finals.

In the women’s doubles, Vivian HooWoon Khe Wei were made to slog before carving out a 21-18, 17-21, 21-16 win over Bulgarian siblings, Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva in the first round.

Vivian-Khe Wei are up against fifth seeds Shiho Tanaka-Koharu Yonemoto of Japan today.

Former World No 1 Lee Chong Wei advanced to the men’s singles second round with an easy 21-9, 21-7 win over China’s Tian Houwei.

Chong Wei , whose last title was the All England in March, will play Hong Kong’s Wei Nan today.