Doubles pair Hee Chun-Kok Siang come clean, quits BAM

Former national doubles pair Mak Hee Chun (left) and Teo Kok Siang in action at the Singapore SEA Games in June. - The STAR Filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: Being truthful is a noble thing.

After trying without any success for the last five months, men’s doubles shuttlers Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang admitted that they were just not good enough and decided to quit the national team. 

Former world junior champions Hee Chun-Kok Siang, once touted as potential world beaters, said their partnership were headed nowhere since teaming up in March.

They competed in five international tournaments, but failed to clear the early rounds in all of them. 

Yesterday, they submitted their resignation letters to Morten Frost, the technical director of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).

Hee Chun said he could not adapt himself with the national team after making a return to the fold.

“I just could not cope any more,” said Hee Chun, who left the BAM in 2012 to become an independent player before being coaxed back by national coach Jeremy Gan in March.

“I could not see a future with Kok Siang although we did all that we could to complement each other.

“I did better as an independent player. I guess I am not one who can handle the pressure that comes with being a national player,” added Hee Chun.

The quit decision was harder for Kok Siang as he was with the BAM for the last 11 years.

“I quit because of a combination of factors. I am 25-years-old now and I can’t see myself going beyond what I can do now,” said Kok Siang.

“I had to make a comeback twice in my career because of injuries and that slowed me down. I also changed partners a couple of times. Physically, I am not fit for the game any more.

“This news is going to disappoint my parents as they really wanted me to make it big in this sport. I am sorry but I just don’t think that I can go any further than this,” added Kok Siang.

Hee Chun-Kok Siang were very productive in their juniors days. They were one of the rare Malaysian pairs to win at Asian and world levels. In 2008, they won the Asian Junior Championships in Johor Baru and the World Junior Championships in Pune, India. Unfortunately, they  have no titles to show at senior level.