National men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong have dumped the national team on new year’s day – dealing Malaysian badminton another blow – just four months before the Olympics qualifiers get underway on May 1.
The former world No 1 and Rio Olympics silver medallists will part way with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) effective Jan 5 2019 – less than a month after the country’s top mixed doubles pair and Rio Olympics silver medal winners Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying shocked the badminton fraternity by going professional with effect from today (Jan 1, 2019).
The BAM released a statement on new year’s day (Jan 1) regarding V Shem-Wee Kiong’s departure.
“After careful consideration and following discussions with various stakeholders BAM has reached the decision to accept the resignations tendered by men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong effective January 5, 2019
“BAM would like to place on record sincere appreciation and gratitude to the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallists for sharing the values, principles and philosophy of the Association during their 17-year tenure with the National team.
“BAM wish the former World No 1 well as they embark on the next phase of their storied career.”
The writing was on the wall for V Shem-Wee Kiong when their chequered career took a nose dive without any title to show in the last two years.
The 2018 was a miserable one for the pair. They failed to retain their title in the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia and did no better in the Thomas Cup Finals held in Bangkok in April and May respectively.
It was also disastrous outings for V Shem-Wee Kiong in the World Championships in Nanjing, China and the Asian Games in Jakarta in August.
Despite their exit from the national team V Shem-Wee Kiong (men’s doubles) and Peng Soon-Liu Ying (mixed doubles) have not given up on qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. RIZAL ABDULLAHÂ
