Badminton: Four pairs urged to nail tough first-round ties

PETALING JAYA: National back-up squad men’s doubles coach Tan Kim Her has one instruction to his charges competing in the Thailand Open GP Gold in Bangkok next week – win their first match.
He has four pairs in the fray – Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming, Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah, Chan Peng Soon-Tan Wee Kiong and Mak Hee Chun-Yew Hong Kheng. And none of them face an easy ride in the first round.
Yao Han-Kah Ming will face seventh seeds Ingo Kindervater-Johannes Schoettler of Germany while Wei Shem-Khim Wah are up against sixth seeds Cho Gun-woo-Kwon Yi-goo of South Korea.
Hee Chun-Hong Kheng will even have to play two rounds in the qualifying tournament to earn their place in the main draw.

No easy ride: Malaysia’s Ow Yao Han (left) and Chooi Kah Ming will face Germany’s Ingo Kindervater-Johannes Schoettler in the first round of the Thailand Open GP Gold.

Nevertheless, Kim Her is positive that his boys will be able to do well in the tournament.
“My instruction to them is simple. Get past the first round match and reaching the quarter-finals or semi-finals shouldn’t be a problem,” he said.
“And my best bets to go far in the tournament are Yao Han-Kah Ming, who are one of the most improved pairs.
“They are up against a German pair and they just need to step up their game on the day itself to win the match.”
Meanwhile, there was a surprise when Hee Chun, who has recovered from a shoulder injury, was paired up with Hong Kheng for the tournament.
Hee Chun previously partnered Wee Kiong but that partnership has taken a turn for the worse due to a lack of understanding and it was understood that the Thailand Open GP Gold would serve as the last chance for them to save the partnership.
For now, Kim Her has chosen instead to split the duo but will give them a chance in the Singapore Open Super Series from June 14-19.
“I just want to let them play instead of keeping them by the sidelines,” said Kim Her.
“Hee Chun-Wee Kiong were quite good and they still have a world ranking (No. 51) and I want them to make full use of a bigger tournament to revive their partnership.”