Tan eyes first int'l Open title on home soil

PETALING JAYA: There is an anomaly on Tan Wee Kiong's badminton resume.The 27-year-old has won numerous international Open titles, but never in Malaysia.

And he hopes to correct that by winning the men's doubles crown at the Malaysian Masters in Sibu from Jan 17-22.

The second-tier Grand Prix Gold tournament is the first assignment for world No. 1 Wee Kiong-Goh V Shem this year, The Star reported.

They ended last season on a bright note by winning the World Superseries Finals for the first time in Dubai in December.

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Unlike Wee Kiong, V Shem has won two international titles in Malaysia.

He partnered Lim Khim Wah to win the Malaysian Masters in 2013 and Malaysian Open in 2014.

"V Shem and I ended the year very well. Now we want to start the season on a winning note," said Wee Kiong.

"It's important to keep the momentum going. And hopefully I'll get to win my first international title at home in Sibu."

With China, South Korea and Denmark not sending their players to Sibu, Wee Kiong-V Shem's main challengers are from Indonesia and Taiwan.

"The field is not competitive, so our focus is on our performance. The key is to be consistent," said Wee Kiong.

In the draw released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) last week. Olympic silver medallists Wee Kiong-V Shem are drawn in the same half with Indonesians Hendra Gunawan-Markis Kido, Lee Sheng-mu-Lin Chia-yu of Taiwan and Indians Manu Attri-Reddy B Sumeeth.

Barring any upsets, they should meet one of these pairs – second seeds and world No. 13 Lee Jhe-huei-Yang-lee of Taiwan, Indonesia's Mohd Ahsan-Rian Agung Saputro and Berry Angriawan-Hardianto Hardianto – in the final.

Wee Kiong and V Shem are now involved in the lucrative Premier Badminton League in Hyderabad, India.

Wee Kiong plays with compatriot Tan Boon Heong for Hyderabad Hunters while V Shem teams up with Markis for Awardhe Warriors.

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Said V Shem: "We are playing with different partners. It's good as we can learn and improve ourselves.

"We can bring in new ideas into our game when Wee Kiong and I resume our partnership at the Malaysian Masters."

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