Kim Her keeps mum on future of Kien Keat-boon Heong

PETALING JAYA: National doubles coach Tan Kim Her prefers not to say anything about Olympic semi-finalists Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong’s future although it is almost certain that the former Asian champions’ seven-year partnership has reached the end of the road.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong were tasked with winning an Olympic medal but fared badly, being outclassed by China’s Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng in the semi-finals before blowing a huge lead to lose to South Koreans Chung Jae-sung-Lee Yongdae in the bronze medal playoff.

BA of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh had announced on Tuesday that the coaching and training committee will review the pair’s future, with a split on the cards.

And Kim Her, who had previously backed his top charges to carry on until the 2014 Asian Games after the semi-final defeat in London, is ready to go back on his word and chart a different future for both Kien Keat and Boon Heong.

“I have already laid out the plans for the rest of the year, plus the targets for 2014 and 2016,” said Kim Her.

“Although I said that it may not be necessary to split up Kien Keat and Boon Heong then, it seems that things have changed and right now we’re just waiting for the coaching and training committee meeting to commence.”

The meeting is expected to be held in a week or two.

An option that Kim Her has is to pair up Boon Heong with Hoon Thien How.

They were partners during their junior days.

Kien Keat, meanwhile, could be paired up with a younger partner and take on the role of a mentor, something like what the older Jaesung is to Yong-dae.

Another option would be for Kien Keat to play in the mixed doubles, where his versatility could make him a force to be reckoned with.