Badminton: 36-years drought ended
Monday, December 11th, 2006 | 10:55 am @ SK
[UPDATED VERSION] The coach was wrecked and once threatened to quit.
Yesterday, after 36-years of medal dry spell, young and unseeded Malaysian pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong end the drought with their superb attacking play.
Now, we’re relieved that there shouldn’t be any excuse (if there is any) for doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky to quit, the main architect of the new remarkable combination.
Congratulations on the outstanding achievement, from all Malaysian badminton supporters. Desire for more!
"In fact, this is a problem with all the Malaysian pairs. They lose focus easily and this is the major reason why they lack consistency.
"This has a lot to do with self-discipline. Training is where all the hard work is done and if the right attitude is not there, then we are fighting a lost cause. If a player takes it easy in a training match, whereby trailing 0-5 is not a problem, it becomes a habit even in tournaments.
"Our players have this problem. […]
"Kien Keat-Boon Heong have promised to work hard on returning to Malaysia but saying it here and actually doing it are two different things.
"There will be outside influences and other lures but they must be above all that. Winning here is good but this should only be the start.
"The target should be the Olympics and all I ask for is support from all quarters.
"Let the coaches and players work. We have our targets and if I fail to deliver, I will tender my resignation.
"I am a professional. Already, the Indonesian media has spoken to me about how they are going to pressure the authorities back home to hire me as the doubles coach.
"There has also been an approach about me returning to England but I have spoken to my wife and she is happy in Malaysia.
"But there are still some issues that I need to discuss with BAM upon returning but Kien Keat-Boon Heong have shown that Malaysia can win titles and I, as a professional, am determined to help them and the other pairs to the best of my ability."