Kuala Lumpur: At the Guangzhou Asian Games four years ago, Tan Wee Kiong and his former partner Mak Hee Chun lost in the first round of men’s doubles event to Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa of Japan 21-17, 21-6.
Four years later, Tan Wee Kiong and his new partner Goh V Shem are now looking like a serious title contender in the Incheon Asian Games, held from September 19 to October 4.
“I was kind of nervous four years ago, but this time, I am well prepared. V Shem and I have been training hard for the Asian Games, hopefully we can continue our momentum after the Glasgow Commonwealth Games,” said Wee Kiong.
Their coach – Pang Cheh Chang, also acknowledged that the pair has what it takes to win the men’s doubles gold in Incheon.
“They reminded me of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong who experienced remarkable success in 2006 and 2007 by winning almost every tournament they’ve participated, including Doha Asian Games and All England. Wee Kiong and V Shem are now playing with the same hunger and passion that Koo-Tan had 8 years ago,” said Pang.
Having said that, both Wee Kiong and Pang Cheh Chang remain cautiously optimistic on the tough competition in Asian Games.
“In men’s team event, China has a strong men’s doubles roster. They have the luxury of mixing up Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng, Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan, and Zhang Nan-Xu Chen,” said Wee Kiong.
“In the individual event, Korea’s Ko Sung Hyun-Shin Baek Cheol and Lee Yong Dae-Yoo Yeon Seong, Indonesia’s Hendra Setiawan-Mohammad Ahsan are the favorites for the doubles crowns,” added Pang.
“Nevertheless, the Asian Games will be a good chance for Wee Kiong and V Shem to learn how to thrive under intense pressure,” said Pang.
Here are Malaysian shuttlers for the Asian Games badminton individual events:
Men’s singles
Lee Chong Wei, Chong Wei Feng
Men’s Doubles
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong
Women’s singles
Tee Jing Yi, Yang Li Lian
Women’s Doubles
Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho, Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo
Mixed doubles
Chan Peng Soon-Ng Hui Lin, Lim Khim Wah -Lim Yin Loo
