Kuala Lumpur: Former World No. 1 men’s pair Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong are optimistic to regain their men’s doubles title at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia that kick off on April 4, 2018.
Goh V Shem told reporters that their mission at the world’s second-most important multi-sport event (after the Olympic Games) was to defend the gold medal that they won four years ago in Glasgow, Scotland.
“Wee Kiong and I are hoping for the best. We definitely would try to defend the gold medal we won four years ago in Glasgow,” said Goh during a press conference at the Malaysian Badminton Academy on Friday.
Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong who have yet to win any titles since clinching the 2016 Super Series Finals in Dubai, were separated for four months on September 2017 before being reunited earlier 2018.
Their best performance this year was the runners-up of the Malaysian Masters champions in January. The World No. 13 pair advanced to the All England quarter-finals two weeks ago before losing to World No. 2 Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen of Denmark.
Despite not able to win any titles since December 2016, Goh stressed that they have improved a lot as a pair.
“We have tried our best against Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen at All England, but we didn’t have the ‘luck’ needed to win, but we’ve definitely seeing improvement since we got back together in January,” added Goh.
“We believe we can end our title drought soon.”
Goh V Shem predicted men’s pairs from India and England are going to be their main opponents in Gold Coast.
In addition to the men’s doubles event, Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong will also join other Malaysian players as part of the mixed team event including Lee Chong Wei (men’s singles), Sonia Cheah (women’s singles), Vivian Hoo/Chow Mei Kuan (doubles women), Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai Jamie (mixed doubles) or Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying (mixed doubles).
