Kuala Lumpur: Tan Boon Heong has vented his disappointment at not being selected for next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Boon Heong won the gold with Koo Kien Keat at the previous Commonwealth but was excluded from this year’s edition. Instead, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has chosen Goh V Shem, Tan Wee Kiong for the men’s doubles.
“I don’t have any problems with my teammates, I was just hoping for an equal and fair player selection process. I did ask Cheh Chang about this, his answer was the decision has been made.”
Boon Heong has admitted disappointment that BAM did not conduct the player evaluation tryouts like they did prior to the Thomas Cup Finals.
“I think Hoon Thien How and I and V Shem-Wee Kiong played equally well during Thomas Cup Finals, but why weren’t we selected?” asked Boon Heong.
“We defeated world number one pair during the tie with Indonesia. It would be better if they could conduct selection trials to give everybody a fair chance of participation.”
“Ever since Koo Kien Keat left BAM, I was left without any partner that I can play with on a regular basis. I was told that I will have a permanent partner after Thomas Cup, but the truth is, I’ll have to partner V Shem for the Japan Open, Wee Kiong in the Indonesian Open and Thien How at the Australian Open,” said the visibly frustrated Boon Heong.
“I don’t want to just give up the game I love so much abruptly. I hope BAM could get all of us on track asap.”
According to BadmintonPlanet.com, BAM will finalize their evaluation of these temporary partnerships after World Championships in Copenhagen, and will begin the transition to set up long-term pairings.
