Sunday, 09 August 2009
THEY are both are young, stylish and talented. While one is a hotshot in Malaysia, the other is a household name in South Korea.
Koo Kien Keat and Lee Yong-dae seem to have a lot in common although the Korean youngster looks to be the more successful one.
Kien Keat does not like to be compared with the Korean but agreed that Yong-dae had set a high benchmark as far as striking a balance in both the men’s doubles and mixed doubles events are concerned.
Kien Keat and Yong-dae will be taking part in two events at the World Championships, which will begin at the Gachibowli Stadium tomorrow.
Kien Keat partners Tan Boon Heong (men’s doubles) and Ng Hui Lin (mixed doubles) while Yong-dae forms a lethal combination with Jung Jae-sung (men’s doubles) and Lee Hyo-jung (mixed doubles).
Yong-dae won the All-England men’s doubles title in 2006 with Jae-sung and the 2008 Olympic Games mixed doubles crown with Hyo-jung.
Kien Keat and Yong-dae are capable of playing exceptionally well with some out-of-this-world shots and both have a lot of followers – especially young girls – in their own countries.
The 24-year-old Kien Keat insists that he is different from Yong-dae.
“He is 21 years old and has been playing in both the men’s and mixed doubles since he was much younger. I have not been consistently playing in these two events,” said Kien Keat. “So naturally, he is more solid in playing in both.
“Physically, I think he is fitter but, with more effort, I think I can be as fit as him. Tactically, though, we are unique. He has his own speciality and I have mine.”
Kien Keat is also pleased to see Yong-dae doing well in both events.
“He has a set the benchmark and it is something that I can work towards achieving too,” he said.
In the world meet, Kien Keat stands a better chance of victory in the men’s doubles than the mixed doubles.
Second seeds Kien Keat-Boon Heong are likely to take on fourth seeds Yong-dae-Jae-sung in the semis if there are no early upsets.
The Malaysians have a first-round bye before facing Nigerians Ola Fagbemi-Jinkan Ifraimu.
They are likely to meet Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng in the third round and either sixth seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Morgensen of Denmark or Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in the last eight.
In the mixed doubles, Kien Keat-Hui Lin are set to meet second seeds Nova Widianto-Lilyana Natsir in the third round and that is as far as they are likely to go.
“This is my fourth world meet campaign. I have a bronze in the men’s doubles (with Chong Ming in Anaheim in 2005) and a bronze in the mixed doubles (with Wong Pei Tty in Madrid in 2006). Hopefully, I can do better this time,” said Kien Keat.
Courtesy of The Star
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