MSBF bank on Moh to steal thunder in Thor’s absence

FOR the first time since the Korat SEA Games in 2007, Malaysia will not have the service of Thor Chuan Leong for the Philippines SEA Games from Nov 30-Dec 11.

The 31-year-old is one of the nation’s most successful cueists in the SEA Games with four golds, three silvers and four bronze medals bagged from his six appearances since debuting in 2007.

But Chuan Leong had opted out this time to focus on his professional career. He has been plying his trade on the World Snooker Tour since 2014.

In Chuan Leong’s absence, the Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) will be counting on another veteran Moh Keen Hoo (pic) to lead the team to glory in snooker.

Making up the four-man side are Lim Kok Leong, Mohd Reza Hassan and Loh Chung Leong.

Like in previous editions, snooker is again Malaysia’s best bet for gold compared to the other two disciplines – pool and billiards.

MSBF president Melvin Chia has set a onegold target with Keen Hoo and Kok Leong as the main contenders.

Melvin wants his charges to put Malaysia back on the winning ways following a disastrous outing at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Games.

Then, Keen Hoo and Chuan Leong went into the Games as overwhelming favourites to retain the doubles title they captured in Singapore 2015 but they could only manage bronze.

The duo also flopped in the singles with none of them clearing the first round.

“Before 2017, Malaysia had never failed to return home with at least a gold from snooker since 2011. Their most glorious outing was the clean sweep through Chuan Leong (in singles) and Chuan Leong-Keen Hoo combination (in the doubles) in Singapore 2015,” said Melvin.

“Unfortunately, we failed miserably on home soil two years later. We must try to reclaim the lost glory in Manila.”

Melvin said Keen Hoo and Kok Leong are shaping up nicely for the SEA Games after the duo impressed at the Australian Open a fortnight ago.

Keen Hoo successfully retained the title while Kok Leong made it to the last eight.

“Keen Hoo is peaking at the right moment with his victory in Australia recently, so let’s hope he strikes again in Manila,” said Melvin.

“He will be fired up to make amends and try to win his second individual gold.

“He was the 2007 champion. We also have high hopes on Keen Hoo-Kok Leong’s partnership.

“This pair have won the country’s first ever title in the World Amateur Team Championship (in Pakistan) three years ago and they can surely be counted on.”

Malaysia’s best achievement in snooker and billiards at the Games came in Chiang Mai in 1995 when Asian champions Sam Chong and Ooi Chin Kay led the team to a 6-3-3 medal haul.