No splitting hairs
Coaches have back-up plans should Goh-Tan part ways
KUALA LUMPUR: A backup plan is already in place should Rio Olympic Games silver medallists Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong go separate ways.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost also said there would be a major reshuffle in the men’s doubles if the national No. 1 pair was split.
Frost said that he had discussed with men’s doubles head coach Cheah Soon Kit on the probable line-ups for the future, which would include – Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin, Low Juan ShenChooi Kah Ming, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Tan Wee Gieen-Tan Chee Tean.
“There’ll be chain reactions if V Shem and Wee Kiong decide to split. Soon Kit and I have looked into it.
“We’ve an idea on the new partnerships if a change is needed,” said Frost.
“The timing for a change is perfect. The Olympic qualification (for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics) will only start in 2019. If we form new pairs now, it will give them a year or so to establish themselves.”
Frost said that it would all depend on V Shem and Wee Kiong.
The duo have been given some time to think about their future after a meeting on Aug 30.
“It’s pointless to go on if they cannot put their differences aside,” he added.
If V Shem-Wee Kiong decide to split, they will be withdrawn from the Korean Open (Sept 12-17) and Japan Open (Sept 19-24).
Meanwhile, Frost said men’s singles head coach Datuk Misbun Sidek will decide on national No. 2 Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin’s fate.
Iskandar said he plans to take a short break to contemplate his future after losing in the singles quarter-finals of the SEA Games last week.
“All players will report for training on Monday ( today) and I expect Iskandar to be present. Misbun will have a discussion with Iskandar about his future,” said Frost.
Iskandar has not been entered for the two Superseries in South Korea and Japan but is listed for three backto- back fourth- tier tournaments in Europe – Belgian International (Sept 13- 16), Polish International ( Sept 21-24) and Czech Open (Sept 27-30).