WEE KIONG-V SHEM CONSIDER NATIONAL TEAM EXIT
Wee Kiong-V Shem mull quitting national team
KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s doubles shuttlers Tan Wee Kiong and Goh V Shem are considering to follow in the footsteps of the top mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying in quitting the national team.
“We have held discussions with several parties including the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) officials but nothing has been finalised at the moment,” the 29-yearold Wee Kiong said.
“We have not resigned. We’re still national team members,” he said after completing his gym session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) here yesterday.
“There’s nothing more I can reveal now because everything is still in discussion.
“And it has to be put on hold now as the national team are going on a one week break (starting today) and will only be back after Christmas.
“Nothing is certain for now because I also need to have further talks with V Shem who is currently not in the country.
“We are exploring our options and see what’s best for us. We may even stay on.”
Should V Shem-Wee Kiong decide to quit, they will become the latest national senior shuttlers to leave the national set-up after mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying handed their resignations recently.
It would be a huge blow to BAM as the Rio Olympics silver medal-winning quartet are the national team’s highest-profile members after national men’s singles ace Lee Chong Wei.
It would certainly not go well with their two main sponsors – Victor and Celcom Axiata – to lose their most marketable icons who have a combined 500,000 followers on Instagram.
But unlike Peng Soon-Liu Ying, V ShemWee Kiong’s intention to quit should not have come as a surprise as they have been under pressure for some time.
The under-performing duo have already been issued an ultimatum until next April to buck up or face the chop.
V Shem-Wee Kiong, the former world No. 1 are sinking into oblivion as they have not only failed to win a title in two years but also prone to early round exits.
The pair failed to defend their Commonwealth Games gold medal in Gold Coast in April and flopped in their first doubles role at the Thomas Cup Finals in Bangkok a month later.
V Shem-Wee Kiong also struggled to shine at the World Championships in Nanjing, China, and the Indonesian Asian Games.
BAM secretary-general Datuk Ng Chin Chai had earlier said that BAM would not stop any
of their senior players from leaving.
“We have not received any other resignation besides Peng Soon and Liu Ying for now. BAM will not stand in their way,” said Chin Chai.