Kuala Lumpur: In preparation for next month’s World Championships in Jakarta, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong who lost in the second round of the Chinese Taipei Open last Thursday, will be participating in the 18th edition of the $50,000 Russian Open Grand Prix 2015 which will kick off in the city of Vladivostok from July 21. They will play Russians Rodion Kargaev-Anatoliy Yartsev in the first round.
Malaysia’s national doubles coach Jeremy Gan told reporters on Monday that Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong should learn to manage difficult situations and know how to withstand it, especially with them trailing in a close match.
“Both of them are highly skilled, but often immature at handling pressure-filled situations. They are due for a big breakthrough if they could eliminate their bottlenecks to unleash their full potential,” said Gan.
Goh/Tan are expected to make steady progress toward the last eight, but the most important goal for them is to rack up more ranking points and get enough warm-up ahead of the World Championships.
Former All England men’s doubles champions Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong are seeded 7th in the tournament, they will most likely to clash with top seeds Vladimir Ivanov/Ivan Sozonov of Russia in quarter-finals.
World No. 183 Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang and three other independent men’s doubles pairs namely Hoon Thien How-Lim Khim Wah, Lee Yan Sheng-Lin Woon Fui and Zulfaiz Zulkiffli-Zulhelmi Zulkiffli are also competing at the Russian Open.
Mixed doubles pair of Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying who are eager to move up the BWF rankings, received a first round walkover from Russian pair Gordey Kosenko/Olga Lipkina, and will collide with another Russian pair Anatoliy Yartsev/Evgeniya Kosetskaya in the second round. Chan/Goh may face top seeds Phillip Chew/Jamie Subandhi of USA in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Chong Wei Feng and Zulfadli Zulkiffli will represent Malaysia in the men’s singles category.
