WORLDS 2010 – Koo & Tan stun the Koreans

In a splendid match, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong defeated Korea’s Lee Yong Dae and Jung Jae Sung, who were shown the exit from the 2010 Yonex BWF World Badminton Championships much earlier than the last two editions, where they grabbed the silver medals.

By Tarek Hafi (live in Paris).  Photo: Badmintonphoto (live)

The high quality match provided by the two pairs could be felt in the whole arena, catching the whole crowd’s attention, cheering not for one side, but for the match itself.

It took three tough games, but that is what was needed for the top Malaysian pair to get through to the men’s doubles semi-final.  It was a magical recipe of terrific shots from high speed flat games to prodigious defenses. It was an early exit for the Koreans, who were expected to climb one step higher than last year in Hyderabad.  In spite of Jung Jae Sung’s lethal attacks and Lee Yong Dae’s net play, the wall created by the Malaysians was too cemented to be broken.

“Even though they were not really on their form, they still played quite well.  I think we played better today,” commented Koo Kien Keat who, with his partner, had to come back from one very tense game down and catch up by winning the two others brilliantly.

“We didn’t think that much actually.  Our goal was just to give our best and their way of playing was relaxed in the third game because of the energy left in the first game.”

The Malaysian player Koo Kien Keat also pointed out the difficult conditions for players and spectators currently in the stadium, with the heat spreading through the hall: “It’s not really hot, but it’s really humid.  Because the hall is small, there is less oxygen.”

To get the latest results, CLICK HERE