Doubles pair fancy chances after ‘decent draw’

Men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong are fired up for the World Championships after getting a “decent draw”.

The Rio Olympic silver medallists have suffered a massive slump in form this year – failing to get past the quarter-finals in six tournaments.

But the pair seem to fancy their chances after yesterday’s draw for the world meet, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from Aug 21-27.

Fifth seeds V Shem-Wee Kiong have a first-round bye and will meet either India’s Manu Attri-B. Sumeeth Reddy or South Korea’s Chung Eui-seok-Kim Dukyoung in the second round.

They are expected to reach the quarter-finals, where they are likely to meet world No. 1 Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen of China.

V Shem-Wee Kiong, who have a 3-3 record against the Chinese pair, believe they can turn their season around.

“It’s not exactly an easy draw because all the pairs are strong. But I feel it’s (the draw) good and acceptable for us,” said Wee Kiong.

V Shem added: “We’ve not played since the Australian Open in June. I hope the long break will benefit us in Glasgow.

“We’ve also been training harder and hope to make the quarter-finals first.”

Malaysia’s other men’s doubles pair in the fray are world No. 26 Chooi Kah Ming-Low Juan Shen, who should get past the Trinidad and Tobago-United States combination of Nicholas Bonkowsky-Mathew Fogarty in the first round and meet second seed Matias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark next.

Malaysia are also banking on the eighth seeds Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing in the mixed doubles.