Tan Kim Her not worried over the fall in ranking of Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong – Badminton
Malaysia’s Tan Kim Her, the head coach for Doubles, is not worried over the quivering performance and fall in world ranking of Men’s Doubles pair of Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.
Kien Keat and Boon Heong slid down to Number eight in the world because of their dip in form for the last two years. In this prolonged period, the current world ranking is worse for the duo.
However, the coach expressed that he was expecting the current situation as the shuttlers have been working under new training programme for the last couple of months.
Kim Her is working with the Kien Keat and Boon Heong to give them mental strength for making them more confident to face the top pairs from China and Korea.
Two weeks ago, in All England Open, Kien Keat and Boon Heong lost to their lower ranked Chinese opponents Hong Wei and Shen Ye in the Men’s Doubles second round which pushed them down to Number eight position in the ranking.
Now, the Malaysians are virtually unable to get a seeded position in Olympic Games because only top four pairs will be seeded in the tournament.
Kien Keat and Boon Heong will be facing the top pairs in their first or second round in Olympic Games.
Kim Her said, “I knew early in the year that their ranking would not matter for the Olympics as only the top four pairs are seeded and Kien Keat-Boon Heong were not going be among them. The rest will be drawn randomly so it doesn’t really matter that they’re
now No. 8 as they still have to play one of the top four.”
According to the coach, the main contenders for Malaysian pair in Olympics will be China’s Cai Yun – Fu Haifeng and Korea’s Jung Jae Sung – Lee Yong Dae and Ko Sung Hyun – Yoo Yeon Seong.
“Right now, the main threats are Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng and the two Korean pairs, in particular Jae-sung-Yong-dae, who were fantastic in their All-England triumph.”
Nevertheless, the coach wants Kien Keat Boon Heong not to go down further in world rankings as it will deprive them a seeded position in other tournaments as well.
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