KOO Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong ended an 11-month title drought when they captured the Macau Open doubles title yesterday.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong, the top seeds, beat second seeds Fang Chieh Min-Lee Sheng Mu of Taiwan 21-16, 21-18 in 31 minutes for their first title this year.

Their last title came in the 2007 Denmark Open but their form fell apart after that and they failed to reach the final of six tournaments they competed since then.

Although Kien Keat-Boon Heong will not over-celebrate as the tournament did not attract any other top 10 pair, it will nonetheless boost their pride after taking the men's doubles scene by storm in early 2007.

National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky had already mentioned that splitting them up is an option if they go on without winning anything by the end of the year.
Their success in Macau could not have come at a better time.

Although they are still way behind their form of 2007, victory has eased the immense pressure they brought upon themselves. They can now look forward to more wins in the Denmark (Oct 20-26) and French Opens (Oct 28-Nov 2).

In the women's doubles, China's up-and-coming pair Cheng Shu-Zhao Yunlei captured their third straight title beating compatriots Ma Jin-Wang Xiaoli 21-15, 21-18.

Yunlei, who also claimed the Japan Open and China Masters with Cheng Shu, had earlier won the mixed doubles title partnering Xu Chen.

The pair beat Hong Kong's Johan Hadi Kusuma-Chau Hoi Wah 21-15, 21-16 for the title. -- K.M. BOOPATHY