KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Teo Kok Siang is determined to emulate his brother in his final year as a junior.
Ten years ago, Kok Seng partnered Chan Chong Ming to win the world junior boys’ doubles title.
For Kok Siang, he has failed to land a title in his last two campaigns in major junior tournaments at the Asian and world levels.
Last chance: Teo Kok Siang (front) in action with Mak Hee Chun during the Asian Junior Championships yesterday.This year, the 18-year-old Kok Siang is hoping to make a mark with his new and experienced partner Mak Hee Chun in the ongoing Asian Juniors at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara here.
They are the top seeds and began their campaign yesterday with a 21-4, 21-12 win over Iraq’s Mustfa Mohd-Haider Mahdi Bashah.
Kok Siang-Hee Chun have an easy path to the quarter-finals where they are expected to play against South Koreans Kim Dae-eun-Kim Ki-eung.
Kok Siang said that he switched from singles play to the doubles this year.
“I was eight when my brother won the world junior title. His win inspired me to take up the game seriously,” said the Johorean.
“I started off as a singles player and joined the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) four years ago. I did not win any major junior singles titles and the coaches decided that I should try my luck in the doubles.”
He has done well thus far with Hee Chun, winning the Dutch and German junior titles.
“The challenges from the Chinese, Koreans and Indonesian pairs will be stiffer in this Asian meet. Hee Chun is a very experienced player and I will try my best to complement him,” said Kok Siang.
“This is my last chance to do well in an Asian junior tournament and I hope to go as far as possible. Hopefully, a good showing will put me on track to become a national player.”
The other Malaysian boys’ doubles pair also cleared the first round yesterday. Ow Yao Han-Pang Zheng Lin beat Michiharu Kido-Ryo Takiuchi of Japan 21-19, 16-21, 21-19.
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