Doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her believes Koo Kien Keat (left) and Tan Boon Heong remain Malaysia’s best hopes for an Olympic medal in the men’s doubles.
This is because doubles Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah, who are ranked No 2 in the national team, are still not in the same league as Kien Keat-Boon Heong's, and it is hard for them to qualify for the Olympics unless they started winning the Super Series.
Kim Her feels that Kien Keat-Boon Heong would regain their world conquering form if Kien Keat starts reprising his role as the leader of the men's doubles squad and leads like Lee Chong Wei.
"Next year's Olympics are Kien Keat-Boon Heong's best opportunity to strike gold because this is the prime time of their career. We will try to do everything necessary to ensure they are successful in London," said Kim Her yesterday.
"Both are world class performers and have been around long enough to know what they are capable of. We want to ensure they are provided with a programme that is going to make them feel assured and push hard to regain their form.
"I want to see the Kien Keat of the old who has been the leader of the group and starting becoming an inspiration to Boon Heong and other players.
"As coaches, we have complete faith that Kien Keat and Boon Heong can make a strong comeback."
The national coaches will have a meeting with BAM high performance director Datuk James Selvaraj and manager Kenny Goh to finalise the programmes for the London Olympics.
Pang Cheh Chang has been long touted as the coach to guide Kien Keat-Boon Heong but Kim Her's experience as a much travelled coach and Rosman Razak's expertise in several areas will be utilised by the top pair in their resurgence,
As for V Shem-Khim Wah, Kim Her said they would find it hard to break into the top eight in the Olympic qualifying rankings as they are not consistent enough.
"V Shem-Khim Wah have progressed but they have not become an independent combination. A top class pair will show their pedigree during the crucial stages where a split second decision from them can make a difference between victory and defeat, and this is something V Shem-Khim Wah must master," said Kim Her.
"If a pair still keeps looking at the coaches during matches, they are going to struggle. They must believe their instincts and make decisions fast."
Kien Keat-Boon Heong, who turned 26 and 24 respectively yesterday, are competing in the Japan Open and upon return, they can be assured of a coaching staff waiting to reignite them.
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