Kuala Lumpur: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) had admitted their preparation for the 2016 Olympic was hampered by Tan Boon Heong’s sudden departure last Wednesday.
However, there’s a new twist on the whole situation, BAM called up Mak Hee Chun who was dropped from BAM in September 2012 to reunite with his 2008 world junior champion partner Teo Kok Siang. Meanwhile, Ow Yao Han will rejoin his 2009 world junior champion partner Chooi Kah Ming in a very fragile men’s doubles squad.
“I haven’t play with Kok Siang in a while, but we won the world junior title together and we know each other very well, there shouldn’t be any problem for us to work together again,” said Mak Hee Chun.
“Hopefully Kok Siang and I can experience success in the senior level tournaments as well,” added Hee Chun.
The BAM’s secretary Ng Chin Chai elaborated that BAM are now more focusing on helping Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics as the qualifying period will begin in May 2015.
“We will try to help V Shem- Wee Kiong to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games. It’s hard to get two pairs to qualify for the Olympic as it requires both pair to be on world top eight. However, I would encourage the young pairs to try to compete for a place in the Olympics, everything is possible,” said Ng Chin Chai.
According to Badminton World Federation (BWF) world rankings last updated on March 5, 2015, the best ranking for Malaysian men’s doubles pair was Hoon Thien How – Tan Wee Kiong that ranked 51st, but the partnership has stalled after Hoon Thien How’s resignation from BAM early February.
