OLD TIMER: Doubles ace eyes fifth Thomas Cup appearence
FALLEN hero Tan Boon Heong once formed a formidable partnership with Koo Kien Keat but those glory days are gone as the Kedah-born is not a sure starter in his fifth Thomas Cup in New Delhi on May 18-25.Boon Heong and Kien Keat made headlines when they won the Doha Asian Games gold and the All England but the expectations and pressure to perform over the years affected the former World No 1 doubles.
The BA of Malaysia (BAM) eventually lost patience and grounded them from tournaments before they were split and tried out with other players in February. Kien Keat subsequently left the national team to pursue a professional career in the Thai league.
Boon Heong was tried out with Ow Yao Han in the Malaysian Open GP Gold, India Open and Singapore Open but they did not shine. BAM will decide on Boon Heong’s new partner after the Thomas Cup.
There are talks in the training camp that Boon Heong could renew his partnership with Hoon Thien How. They first grabbed attention by winning the world junior title a decade ago. Thien How and partner Tan Wee Kiong are Malaysia’s top ranked pair at World No 7.
Boon Heong, 27, is also sparring regularly with Goh V Shem, who forms the country’s No 2 doubles with Lim Khim Wah in the Thomas Cup.
It is learnt that the national coaches are grooming Boon Heong and V Shem behind closed doors as they do not have the confidence in Khim Wah in the doubles game.
“I have been preparing for the Thomas Cup for a long time as I worked hard in training when Kien Keat and I were barred from tournaments.
“I do not want to disclose anything but I have been tested with most of the doubles players in the team,” said Boon Heong at Juara Stadium yesterday.
“The Thomas Cup is nothing new as I’ve played in four previous editions. I have advised my teammates during the ongoing camp to focus on their game, not get worried about their opponents.”
Boon Heong made his Thomas Cup debut eight years ago in Tokyo but did not play any match. He helped the team reach the semi-final in 2008 (Jakarta) and 2010 (Kuala Lumpur). In Wuhan two years ago, Malaysian exited in the quarter-finals.
“I am not the main player this time but it is okay. It does not bother my preparations for the event. I have also been advising and supporting others in the team because they are also feeling some pressure,” said Boon Heong.
When asked whether he hoped to play in New Delhi, Boon Heong said: “If I am giving the chance, I will do my best to earn a point.”
*World No 1 Lee Chong Wei could be carrying an injury as he was limping after the training sessions at Juara Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Chong Wei was seen touching his left thigh on the way to the team bus after the three-hour training session. Despite efforts from the media to interview him, he only smiled and left the scene.
Despite the media filling the request forms for interview (as required by BAM), Chong Wei was not available. The BAM should make it mandatory for the country’s most decorated shuttler to face the media at least once a week to promote the sport.
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