goh v shem (right) and tan wee kiong

Reunited to finish the job

RIO Olympic silver medallists Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong hope to make it a happy second reunion when they compete at the World Championships in Tokyo on Aug 22-28.

The former world No 1 have unfinished business as they have yet to win a world meet medal.

V Shem-Wee Kiong, the world No 13, are one of the three Malaysian men’s doubles who have made the 48-pair cut on April 26.

The other two pairs are world No 9 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and 11th-ranked Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi.

A nation can have a maximum of three qualifiers, provided all are ranked in the top 24 of the Phase One selection.

And thanks to unused slots from the initial cut, Malaysia were fortunate to get the fourth ticket, with world No 16 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani earning entry through the Phase Two invitation last week.

After ending their seven-year partnership in August last year, V Shem and Wee Kiong got back together for the world meet in Spain.

The pair made it to the quarter-finals before losing to eventual runners-up He Jiting-Tan Qiang of China. For the record, it was their best ever result in the world meet.

“Since we have qualified, we thought why not give it another shot. Who knows, we might even finish on the podium in Tokyo,” said V Shem.

“The quarter-final achievement last year was our best yet, just one win away from winning a medal. We have one more opportunity, so we’re taking it up.

“Our sponsors are willing to fund our trip.”

Asked if they were toying with the idea of pairing up permanently until the 2024 Paris Olympics, V Shem was quick to play it down.

“It’s just a one-off thing for the world meet, nothing else after that,” he added.

Another Rio Olympic silver-medal winning pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, as expected, declined their spot.

Instead, Malaysia’s mixed doubles challenge will be led by Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See.

Pang Ron-Yee See, the Hanoi Sea Games silver medallists, qualified through Phase Two and will be playing their last tournament together following BA of Malaysia’s decision to split them.

The men’s singles charge will feature only two Malaysian shuttlers in Lee Zii Jia and Liew Daren.

It will be tough for Ng Tze Yong to get invited as he is ranked 13th on the reserve list. In the women’s singles, Soniia Cheah will be making a comeback 12 months after her last competitive action at the Tokyo Olympics. S. Kisona was the only other qualifier. Women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien made the world meet list.

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