VETERAN doubles pair Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah’s early exits from the Thailand Open and China Masters could be a blessing in disguise and national assistant coach Pang Cheh Chang expects the pair to bounce back strongly in the World Championships at the Putra Stadium on Aug 13-19.

Cheh Chang, who joined the national senior team the same time the pair did in 1994, said Tan Fook-Wan Wah have often done well when the odds are against them. Tan Fook-Wan Wah lost to Thailand’s Tesana Panvisvas-Sudket Prapakamol in the Thailand Open, and then suffered a stunning defeat to Indonesia’s second ranked pair Luluk Hadiyanto-Alven Yulianto in the China Masters.

"I’ve known them long enough and the latest defeats could be a blessing in disguise for them," said Cheh Chang.

"If they do well just before a major event, they normally struggle in the major event itself. It happened in the last World Championships where they lost early despite being in good form. They had reached the Hong Kong Open final just two weeks before that.

"There is no pressure on them this time and this could also help their cause. They may have struggled in the last two events but I expect them to serve a surprise."

Tan Fook-Wan Wah were also expected to deliver a medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics after just winning the Malaysia Open and were ranked World No 1. They crashed out in the quarter-finals.

However, the pair were not expected to make an impact on the 2001 World Championships in Seville, Spain, where they went on to reach the semi-finals.

The fact that Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong are seen as the nation’s best bet for the title could also give Tan Fook-Wan Wah some advantage in the form of motivation.

National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky has been urging Tan Fook-Wan Wah to lead by example as they are the most senior pair and provide a mature performance to motivate their compatriots.

Copyright © 2007 NST Online.