Rexy challenges duo
Author: New Straits Times
Date: 22 Feb 2007
Category: World News
WINNING the All England title, especially on their debut,
is the hallmark of true champions. And coming from national doubles coach Rexy
Mainaky, who as a player won the title twice, it is a message that Koo Kien
Keat-Tan Boon Heong must take very seriously.
This is because Rexy has always listed the All England,
which will be played in Birmingham on March 6-11, among the major titles which
he wants his charges to win.
And Rexy firmly believes Kien Keat-Boon Heong are capable
of winning it.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong are ranked World No 32 but seeded
eighth in Birmingham due to their good run on the international scene.
The Malaysians are aiming for their second prestigious
crown after having won the Asian Games gold in Doha last December.
And with Malaysia’s last men’s All England doubles title
coming in 1982 via Razif and Jalani Sidek, the pressure is greater on Kien
Keat-Boon Heong.
The road to the title will not be easy as they are down
to meet three Indonesian pairs — Sigit Budiarto-Frans Kurniawan, Luluk Hadiyanto-Alven
Yulianto and joint third seeds Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan en route to the
semi-finals — but Rexy believes his young charges have the mental resilience to
go through.
In the semi-finals, they are likely to meet defending
champions Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark while their final
opponents could be either top seeds Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun of China or the
Indonesian-American combination of Candra Wijaya-Tony Gunawan.
"I feel Kien Keat-Boon Heong have an easier draw
than their teammates but they must work hard to go all the way to win the
title. Then they can call themselves true champions," said Rexy.
"I’m saying this because they are making their debut
in the event as a pair and they have to beat some strong pairs from the second
round onwards.
"This is a big test as their rivals will also be
prepared for them and the All-England is not an easy tournament to win."
Boon Heong said the fact that he will be playing in
England for the first time will make it difficult but he will be battling hard
with Kien Keat to deliver.
"I’ve never played in the All-England and that will
make it tougher," said Boon Heong.
"Our rivals are now aware of our tactics and we need
to work harder. It is hard to say if we can win but we will give it our best
shot to continue doing well."
