Koo and Tan to go separate ways

According to the New Straits Times, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong will be going separate ways in 2013, 7 years after they started out their partnership with a bang – a final at the Yonex Japan Open in the fall of 2006 before they were to take the gold medal at the Doha Asian Games. The duo was under fire after their recent performance at the Olympics were they failed to deliver a medal. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) could be endorsing the new partnership of Koo Kien Keat with Lim Khim Wah while Tan Boon Heong could be partnering  Goh V Shem.  This information was given by the Malaysian daily and could be confirmed after BAM’s exco meeting on Wednesday.

Lim has told The Star he was willing to play with anyone as long as the partnership lasted until the Rio 2016 Games.  The 24 year old has been partnered with no fewer than 11 different players since his debut with BAM.

“I have reached a stage where I’m receptive to any decision. I prefer not to comment about all these changes,” said Khim Wah to the Star. “Whoever it is, I hope we will last until the next Olympics [Rio 2016]. I’m ready for a fresh start. I’m quick to adapt and the immediate task is to get cracking with my new partner.”

In the meantime, Koo and Tan will play another set of Superseries before ending their partnership. They are seeded second in the Yonex Japan Open, which kicks off today in Tokyo’s Yoyogi’s Stadium