Title gives Kian Meng a Tan of confidence

PETALING JAYA: From a survivor to a believer – that’s how winning the Korean Open title has transformed Tan Kian Meng (pic).

He now believes that he has the quality to match the best in big tournaments and become an established mixed doubles pair in the world with Lai Pei Jing. On Sunday, the duo ended their five-year title drought by lifting the Open title in Suncheon City.

Kian Meng said the next move was to focus on the Asian Championships in Manila from April 26-May 1 after the duo decided not to make an attempt to try for back-to-back titles by withdrawing from the Korean Masters, which begins in Gwangju City today.

Kian Meng will only take part in the men’s doubles with Tan Wee Kiong in Gwangju City.

“The Korean Open win has boosted our confidence that we can match the top pairs. We need to focus on consistency and produce quality results,” said Kian Meng.

“We cannot be beating a pair easily in one tournament and losing to another easily in the next tournament.

“We had some good results but the Korean Open was the breakthrough we needed and now our next aim is to do well in the Asian meet.

“It’s a big tournament where the top pairs will be playing and we want to maintain our consistency and perform well in Manila.

“We won’t be playing in the Korean Masters and will be selective about tournaments.

Pei Jing needed a rest and wanted to focus on her preparation for the Asian Championships. She will return to Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (tomorrow).”

In the Korean Masters, Kian Meng-Wee Kiong will play third seeds Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan of Indonesia today.

Independent pairs Goh V Shem-Low Juan Shen and Nur Azriyn Ayub-Lim Khim Wah are also in the fray but top seeds Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi have withdrawn from the tournament most likely to focus on their preparation for the Thomas Cup Finals which will be held in Bangkok from May 8-15.

In the mixed doubles, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie will lead Malaysia’s charge in the absence of Kian Meng-Pei Jing and Yew Sin-Goh Liu Ying. The other mixed pairs hoping to come good are Chan Peng Soon-Toh Ee Wei and Choong Hon Jian-Yap Cheng Wen.

Goh Jin Wei will get to play in two events.

In the singles, she has been drawn to play Phittayaporn Chaiwan of Thailand in the first round.

Jin Wei and Soong Joo Ven also got a rare opportunity to see action as there were seven withdrawals in the mixed doubles.

In the women’s doubles, Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien also withdrew.

The tournament saw 18 withdrawals in the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles but no redraw was needed.