Shuttlers Ee Yi-Yew Sin hope for career spark with Games gold
- KPV KPV
- Jul 27, 2017
- 2 min read
SHUTTLERS Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin are using next month’s Kuala Lumpur SEA Games as their career launching pad.
The world No. 22 men’s doubles pair have done quite well to establish themselves as the national No. 2 over the last one year but have yet to win any significant titles.
They have won one title – the second-tier Bitburger Open – in Germany last year.
Winning the gold at the Aug 19-30 Games will be a perfect boost to Ee Yi-Yew Sin’s confidence.
“It’ll be great to win our first big title at our first SEA Games in front of the home fans, but it’ll not be easy,” said the 24-year-old Ee Yi.
“The Indonesians and Thais will be our main challengers,” he added.
Expectations are high on Ee Yi-Yew Sin to make up for the absence of Rio Olympic silver medallists Tan Wee Kiong-Goh V Shem at the Games. Wee Kiong-V Shem will be taking part in the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, from Aug 21-27.
The 22-year-old Yew Sin added: “The pressure is on us to deliver in the absence of our seniors. We’ll take it as a chance to make a name for ourselves. We’ve been targeted to reach the final but we’ll go for the gold.”
Ee Yi-Yew Sin’s main challengers will be world No. 23 Berry Angriawan-Hardianto Hardianto. The Indonesians were the winners of Malaysian Masters in January and Thailand Open in February this year.
The other contenders are world No. 17 and 2016 Taiwan Masters champions Mohd Rian Ardianto-Fajar Alfian of Indonesia and world No. 15 and 2016 Denmark Open runners-up Bodin Isara-Nipitphon Phuangphet of Thailand.
Ee Yi, who bagged the 2011 world junior title with Nelson Heg Wei Keat, is also looking beyond the Games with Yew Sin.
“I’ve many partners over the years, but it’s with Yew Sin that I’ve achieved my highest ranking. Both of us want to win all the major titles one day,” said Ee Yi, who hopes to break into world’s top 15 before the end of the year.
“We need to improve our stamina, strength and cut down on our mistakes. With more hard work under coaches Jeremy Gan and Cheah Soon Kit, we can only get better.”
Malaysia last won the men’s doubles title at the biennial Games through Lee Wan Wah-Choong Tan Fook in Vietnam 14 years ago.
Besides the men’s doubles, Malaysia are also hoping to win the women’s doubles title through Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei or Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean.
Source: The Star.com
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