kwun
09-15-2004, 01:53 AM
BADMINTON: Stay with me, Chong Ming
NSTP emedia
For Kien Keat, 19, the opportunity to be paired with a senior player is a positive move towards improving his game and becoming a leading doubles player in the country.
The talented youngster from Perak had gained some valuable experience playing at the highest level when he was paired with Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng during the Thomas Cup finals in Jakarta four months ago.
“I will make full use of this opportunity and feel proud for being given this chance by coach (Yap Kim Hock),” he said after the National squad’s training at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.
According to him, such opportunities come very rarely and hopes to make full use of it and repay the coach’s faith.
“Since the new partnership was initiated after the Athens Olympics, we have struck a good understanding as both of us have a similar attacking play.
“What is important now is to try and qualify for the Malacca Open final,” said Kien Keat who together with Chong Ming are the second seed in the men’s doubles.
Kien Keat was under Kim Hock’s tutelage when the former doubles specialist took charge of the Bukit Jalil Sport School shuttlers and later carved a name for himself by winning the doubles title at the 2002 Asian Junior Championships with partner Ong Soon Hock.
Teaming-up with Gan Teik Chai who is partnering Choon Eng for the Malacca Open, Kien Keat won the Luster Malaysian Satellite in Sungai Petani last November and the French Open in March.
In the Satellite, they beat fellow countrymen Hong Chieng Hun and Lin Woon Fui while Denmark pair Jesper Larsen and Joachim Fischer Nielsen fell victim in the French Open.
In Malacca, Kien Keat-Chong Ming face Kedah’s Au Kok Leong and Khoo Chung Chiat in the first round.
NSTP emedia
For Kien Keat, 19, the opportunity to be paired with a senior player is a positive move towards improving his game and becoming a leading doubles player in the country.
The talented youngster from Perak had gained some valuable experience playing at the highest level when he was paired with Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng during the Thomas Cup finals in Jakarta four months ago.
“I will make full use of this opportunity and feel proud for being given this chance by coach (Yap Kim Hock),” he said after the National squad’s training at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.
According to him, such opportunities come very rarely and hopes to make full use of it and repay the coach’s faith.
“Since the new partnership was initiated after the Athens Olympics, we have struck a good understanding as both of us have a similar attacking play.
“What is important now is to try and qualify for the Malacca Open final,” said Kien Keat who together with Chong Ming are the second seed in the men’s doubles.
Kien Keat was under Kim Hock’s tutelage when the former doubles specialist took charge of the Bukit Jalil Sport School shuttlers and later carved a name for himself by winning the doubles title at the 2002 Asian Junior Championships with partner Ong Soon Hock.
Teaming-up with Gan Teik Chai who is partnering Choon Eng for the Malacca Open, Kien Keat won the Luster Malaysian Satellite in Sungai Petani last November and the French Open in March.
In the Satellite, they beat fellow countrymen Hong Chieng Hun and Lin Woon Fui while Denmark pair Jesper Larsen and Joachim Fischer Nielsen fell victim in the French Open.
In Malacca, Kien Keat-Chong Ming face Kedah’s Au Kok Leong and Khoo Chung Chiat in the first round.