COPENHAGEN, Aug 29 — Malaysia's hope for at least a men's doubles pair to enter the semi-finals of the 2014 BWF World Badminton Championships ended today.
The last standing pair of Hoon Thien How and Tan Wee Kiong, seventh seeds lost 18-21 and 13-21 to 12th seeds, Ko Sung Hyun and Shin Baek Cheol of South Korea in the quarter-finals at the Ballerup Super Arena, here today.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Tan alleged they only had short training stint of one and a half months when his regular partner was Goh V Shem.
Nonetheless, the 25-year-old player admitted they were not prepared for the change in tactic by the Koreans which caused their defeat even though they had played twice in the past.
Tan and Hoon had beaten the Korean pair in the second round of the 2013 China Open as well as in the German Open quarter-finals early this year.
Another national pair, Koo Kien Kiat and Boon Heong were eliminated after losing 21-14, 10-21 and 19-21 to sixth seeds, Lee Sheng Mu and Tsai Chia Hsin Tsai of Taiwan in the third round on Thursday. — Bernama
