NATIONAL doubles coach Rexy Mainaky has softened his stance with temperamental doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and has given them an additional four months to save their playing career.

Rexy, after seeing one failure too many from his once top pair, had initially given them just two tournaments — the China Masters (Sept 23-28) and Macau Open (Sept 30-Oct 5) — to show good improvement or face a split.

But now, Kien Keat-Boon Heong, whose semi-final appearance in the Asian Badminton Championships in April was their best result this year, will get the opportunity to compete in six events to prove they still have what it takes.

The other four being the Denmark (Oct 21-26), French (Oct 28-Nov 2), China (Nov 18-23) and Hong Kong (Nov 25-30) Opens, which should either see them remain as a pair or begin new challenges with different partners.

Rexy said he is not on a witch-hunt after the pair’s failure at the Beijing Olympics but wants Kien Keat-Boon Heong to bounce back quickly.
“I’m not trying to penalise them because they lost in Beijing but they must realise their mistakes quickly and bounce back. This is why I’m giving a slightly longer period for them to prove their worth,” said Rexy.

“They have got only one semi-final to show for this year and that’s not their quality and Kien Keat-Boon Heong know this.

“If they continue losing in the first or second round all the time, they will realise themselves that a change in partnership is inevitable.

“If they still continue producing the same results, they give us no choice. We (coaches) will only look stupid if we allow them to continue as a pair if the current opportunity is not utilised wisely.”

Kien Keat, after his outburst that Boon Heong and himself would quit the national team if they are split-up, refrained from making any comments but vowed to give his best in the coming tournaments.

If Kien Keat-Boon Heong’s form does not pick up, there is a strong possibility they will be competing with new partners in January’s Malaysia Open.