Incheon: After a four years title drought, Malaysia’s men’s doubles ace Tan Boon Heong was hoping to explode back onto the badminton scene with this new permanent partner Hoon Thien How in the Asian Games. However, a left thigh injury he sustained during a training session in Kuala Lumpur could hamper his chances at claiming his second Asian Games gold medal.
“I can feel the pain, but I did not talk to doctors at National Sports Institute (NSI), therefore, I don’t know how serious the injury is. I hope it is not going to be a problem,” said Boon Heong.
Malaysian men’s doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang revealed that back-up men’s doubles player Lim Khim Wah also experiencing sore and swollen at his right heel.
“We had a first round bye, and I will play Chan Peng Soon with Hoon Thien How in the second round against either Macau or Mongolia. I really hope Boon Heong and Khim Wah can recover on time for the semi-final tie against China,” said Cheh Chang.
Other Malaysian men’s doubles pair who will participate in the individual event is the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalist Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong.
Pang Cheh Chang also expressed his dissatisfaction with the inadequate training arrangement by the host country.
“It took us an hour to get to the Gyeyang Gymnasium (the venue of the competition). We were only allowed to train there for one hour, and that’s the only training session available for us at that venue before the tournament starts,” criticized Cheh Chang.
