PETALING JAYA: Just when you think Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah could become another dominant pair in badminton men's doubles, they faltered yet again.
They were sent packing in the first round of Singapore Open 17-21, 24-26 by South Korean newly formed pair Kim Sa-rang-Yoo Yeon-seong.
Sa-rang-Yeon-seong was able to catch up from 7-11 deficits on the first set ; V Shem-Khim Wah only has themselves to blame as they wasted five game point opportunities in the second game to hand the Koreans the victory.
The pair bit the dust in the second round of the Indian Open last week and failed to defend their Malaysian Open GP Gold title by losing to a relatively unknown pair from Singapore two weeks ago.
Depends on how you look at it, even though Ow Yao Han-Tan Boon Heong has crashed out in the first round against China’s Cai Yun-Lu Kai with 24-22, 19-21, 18-21 in 63 minutes, this pair actually shows stronger fighting spirit that V Shem-Khim Wah, and Thien How-Wee Kiong. The pair started their partnership at Malaysia Grand Prix Gold Open 3 weeks ago, since then, Yao Han- Boon Heong has proven they could put up a good fight against Markis Kido-Gideon from Indonesia, Boe and Mogensen from Denmark, and now the pair from China. They just need more time to be familiar with each other and to find the winning formula together.
Having said that, the world No. 10 Malaysian pair Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong saved Malaysian’s blushes by beating Indonesia’s Wahyu Nayaka Arya Pankaryanira-Ade Yusuf 21-18, 21-14. They will meet Thailand’s Maneepong Jongjit-Nipitphon Puangpuapech in the second round.
