Asian Badminton Championships: Kien Keat's new role

NST

Koo Kien Keat (left) and Goh Liu Ying beat Taiwan’s Chen Chau Sheng-Yang Chia Tseng 21-11, 21-9 in the mixed doubles yesterday in Johor Baru.

NATIONAL coach Rexy Mainaky predicts that top men's doubles player Koo Kien Keat will be playing in the 2012 London Olympics, but in the mixed doubles.

Kien Keat, who quit playing mixed doubles for more than six months, returned to partner newcomer Goh Liu Ying in the Asian Badminton Championships in Johor Baru yesterday and qualified for the main draw.

In the men's doubles, Kien Keat-Boon Heong received a walkover from Rafael Zakirov-Yana Katerinich of Uzbekistan, and then beat Taiwan's Chen Chau Sheng-Yang Chia Tseng 21-11, 21-9.

The Malaysian pair went on to upstage South Korea's Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae 21-18, 21-14 to seal their place in the main draw.

Kien Keat-Liu Ying will play China's third seeds He Hanbin-Yu Yang in the first round of the mixed doubles main draw today.
"There is a possibility we can go for medals in the 2012 Olympics," said Rexy yesterday. "I want the younger players to also focus on the mixed doubles. Kien Keat will also try out in the event more regularly after the Beijing Olympics.

"The aim of fielding Kien Keat in the mixed doubles again is to make him feel more relaxed and play better in the men's doubles.

"As yet, there is no regular partner for him but if Liu Ying does well with Kien Keat in the first round, they could become a regular pair."

Kien Keat, on the other hand, said it was nice to play in the mixed doubles again after splitting with Wong Pei Tty but he feels everything depends on how serious the BA of Malaysia (BAM) considers the event.

"I don't think players are very serious about the mixed doubles, so I must see what BAM's plans are for the event," said Kien Keat.

"For now, I'm quite comfortable although I consider myself a newcomer to the event. My aim is also to partner junior players and help them progress."

Yesterday's qualifying results (Malaysia unless stated): Women's singles 1st rd: Vivian Hoo bt Razan Khaled (Iran) 21-11, 21-3; 2nd rd: Vivian Hoo bt Thi Thanh Tuy (Vie) 10-21, 21-12, 21-19; 3rd rd: Chiang Pei Hsing (Tai) bt Vivian Hoo 21-16, 21-15.

Mixed doubles, 1st rd: Koo Kien Keat-Goh Liu Ying bt Cheng Chau Sheng-Yang Chia Tseng (Tai) 21-11, 21-9; Huang Duc Duong-Thi Hiong Gam Thai (Vie) bt Kuan Kam Chung-Vivian Hoo 21-18, 23-21.