A start to cherish
Goh-Tan put Indian Open setback behind
NATIONAL men’s doubles pair Goh V ShemTan Wee Kiong wasted little time in putting their Indian Open disappointment behind them as they got their Celcom Axiata Malaysian Open campaign off to a thunderous start.
The world No. 14 made short work of Taiwan’s Chen Hung-ling-Wang Chi-lin, tearing their world No. 25 opponents apart 21-10, 21-16 in just 23 minutes at the Malawati Stadium yesterday.
The win has set them up for a mouth-watering clash against world No. 1 Lee Yongdae-Yoo Yeon-seong. The South Korean are also through after brushing aside another Taiwanese pair – Lee Sheng-mu-Tsai Chiahsin – 21-8, 21-19.
V Shem-Wee Kiong were widely tipped to win their maiden Superseries crown after reaching the semi-final in New Delhi last week, but they went lost tamely to eventual champions Markus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo.
They also fell at the same stage in the AllEngland early last month.
“It was disappointing last week, but it’s the past. We’re looking to do well in the Malaysian Open, our home event,’ vowed Wee Kiong.
“We did just that today (yesterday). We played with confidence and controlled the game.”
V Shem-Wee Kiong have won just once against Yong-dae-Yeon-seong in their last four meetings, but the Malaysians are unfazed.
“Bring them on. We will give them a run for their money and try not to let our fans down,” said a determined V Shem, who tasted success in 2014 with Lim Khim Wah.
“We have met them several times ... we have what it takes to beat them. The court conditions are quite challenging as it’s windy. All of the players have played here for the first time.
“So, the ones who can adapt fastest to the conditions will have the advantage.”
Two-time winners Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heon also cleared their first hurdle by defeating Japan’s Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda 21-19, 24-26, 21-17 in an exhausting 72-minute battle.
The former world No. 1 will face seventh seeds Ko Sung-hyun-Shin Baek-cheol of South Korea next.