The breakup is inevitable and Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong is heading for just that direction following a string of bad results.
Badminton buffs probably saw the last of the once much feared partnership and former world No 1 at the recent world championships in Glasgow, Scotland in last month.
V Shem has openly admitted that his partnership with Wee Kiong has “lost the spark” and the pair is ready to accept the split.
The 2016 Rio Olympics silver medal winners have not even reached the semi-finals let alone win a Superseries title this year and are likely to skip the coming Korean Open and the Japan Open.
During the heydays the Malaysian pair also won the Denmark Open and ended 2016 with a bang by clinching the World Superseries Finals in Dubai.
Speaking at the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia Purple League on Thursday, V Shem said: “I am ready for the inevitable.”
The breakup is no surprise after the Malaysians, currently ranked No 7, fell to an embarrassing 22-20, 21-11 defeat to South Korean scratch pair Chung Eui-seok-Kim Duk-young in the second round in the world meet.
In their recently concluded BWF World Championships, the duo were shown the exit by a South Korean scratch pair – Chung Eui Seok and Kim Duk-young – with a tame 22-20 and 21-11 defeat.
“Our performance has not been up to the mark and we’re really down at this point of time. I really do hope that we can continue to grow as a pair but we’ve tried for so long and there hasn’t been any results
“We have lost the confidence and communication on court. Training is as usual but we are just focused on our own game, we are not talking to each other like before.
“We leave it to the BAM to decide and take the next course of action. Our partnership has been put to hold and we will probably be missing out on the Japan and South Korea Open,” said V Shem.
According to BAM president Datuk Seri Mohd Norza Zakaria, his partner Wee Kiong is currently in Vietnam with the men’s doubles coach Cheah Soon Kit to deliberate on the partnership. Soon Kit is currently in Ho Chi Minh City for the Vietnam Open.
Meanwhile, Norza is pleased with BAM’s tie-up with the Purple League which will help raise the bar and take badminton to greater heights with focus on development of the game in the country.
“The MPL will be the perfect venue for young Malaysian talent to compete and play against some of the best shuttlers in the world at the highest level,” said Norza.
MPL chief executive officer Datuk Jack Koh said with BAM’s full backing the MPL will play an important role and contribute towards the development of Malaysian badminton and unearth future stars.
The MPL has never been short of sponsors with big names like 100PLUS, Resorts World Genting, Astro, Senheng, Samsung, Li Ning and Lazada on board. – BY ALVIN OH
