KOO Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong's objective of making a strong impact in their final tune-up for the London Olympics went up in smoke when they were comprehensively beaten by Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark in the Indonesia Open premier super series in Jakarta yesterday.
Kien Keat-Boon heong could hardly match the dominant Boe-Mogensen, the World No 3, and went down 21-15, 21-11 in just 36 minutes.
The fact that Kien Keat-Boon Heong have only beaten one top four pair -- Ko Sung Hyun-Yoo Yeon Seong of South Korea -- once over the last 12 months speaks volumes of their poor form and confidence and yesterday's defeat will make the London Olympics an uphill task.
Boe-Mogensen will take on Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae, who defeated 2008 Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia 14-21, 21-17, 21-15, in the final today.
What makes the situation worse is that the junior doubles scene doesn't look any better as coach Yap Kim Hock, who successfully produced world junior champions over the last three years, has conceded that Malaysia cannot win gold in the Asian Junior Championships in Gimcheon, South Korea on June 30-July 7.
Kim Hock, who guided Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming (2009), Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng (2010) and Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi (2011) to become world junior champions, said the chances of Malaysians winning the doubles title is very slim.
"We had a great run this past four years in the World Junior Championships with four titles (Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang were champions in 2008). However, it will be tough this year and this includes the Asian Juniors," said Kim Hock.
"The Hong Kong and Japanese pairs are quite tough to beat and our target will be to reach the final. Once we get to the title decider anything can happen."
Malaysia will be represented in the Asian Juniors by Calvin Ong-Tan Wee Gieen and Darren Issac-Tai An Khang.
Meanwhile, Soong Joo Ven moved within a match of securing his first national junior title after beating Tan Kian Meng 21-17, 22-20 and will meet second seed Soo Teck Zhi, who defeated Chong Yee Han 14-21, 22-20, 21-15, in the final today.
Joo Ven is Malaysia's best bet in the Asian Juniors while Teck Zhi will be playing in the Asean Schools in Surabaya during the same period.
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