Do not let our back up single players always stay at home

To :
BAM General Manager Mr Kenny Goh :

Taipei Open: Back-up pairs impress in Taiwan
Monday, 15 September 2008
By : K.M. BOOPATHY

Razif Latif (right) and Tan Wee Kiong have a very bright future ahead of them.


REXY Mainaky's decision to expose back-up pairs to the international scene has given momentum to the national doubles squad and the latest results from the Taiwan Open is testimony of the potential these players possess.
None of the senior pairs were in action at the Taiwan Open and early round exits were expected from the back-up pairs but to their credit, they proved otherwise and staked strong claims for further exposure.

Two pairs — Razif Latif-Tan Wee Kiong and Hoon Thien How-Ong Soon Hock — have stood out and, not surprisingly, both made the semi-finals in Taiwan.

Razif-Wee Kiong, who focused on the mixed doubles last year, are only playing in their third competition as a pair and their latest results should see them improve their world ranking from 86th into the top 60.

It is their second semi-final appearance after having reached the same stage in the Singapore Open in June and Rexy has already seen plenty of potential in this combination.

Thien How-Soon Hock also reached their second straight semi-final which they also did in the Indonesia Open.

The other back-up pairs who played in Taiwan are Asian Junior champions Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang and Khoo Chung Chiat-Tan Bin Shen who lost in the first and second rounds respectively.

There are two other combinations — Goh Wei Shem-Ong Jian Guo and Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah — and they have been entered for the upcoming China Masters on Sept 23-28 and the Macau Open on Sept 30-Oct 5.

Rexy said it is important to focus on the younger combinations early so that they will have enough quality pairs to support Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Zakry Latif-Fairuzizuan, who look to be the only senior combinations who will be part of the 2012 London Olympics programme.

"We have to expose them so that they will have enough experience when the London Olympics comes around. The back-up pairs have been showing good progress and have a lot of potential," said Rexy.

"It is also good to see that they have been pushing the seniors in training and also in local tournaments.

"A couple of years ago, the seniors would win hands down but it has become tougher for them to beat the back-up pairs. Some have even beaten the seniors and this is a very healthy situation," Rexy has already said that Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah are not part of his future plans and the veteran pair will serve as sparring partners for the next six months. The Gan Teik Chai-Lin Woon Fui combination could also be dropped.

The current situation looks to be ideal for Razif-Wee Kiong and other back-up pairs to grab their opportunities, make quick progress and become quality pairs, and eventually challenge the seniors for a place in the London Olympics.
Courtesy of New Straits Times

Badminton fan's comment :

Exposing back-up pairs to the international scene is the right move but back up single players have not much chance to be exposed.

BAM should give more power to Rashid so that he can send more back up single
players in the international scene, just like Rexy does. Lee Chong Wei is an solid example. No one can become champion without being exposed. Do not let our back up single players always stay at home.

BAM has done well so far. Please take care of our back up single players!We need
more single players like Lee Chong Wei!!

Badminton fan :
budd5465@gmail.com 15092008