2016 a fruitful year for V Shem-Wee Kiong: Coach

The year 2016 has been a fabulous one for the country's number one men's doubles pair Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong, both in terms of success and financial gain.

The Rio de Janeiro Olympics silver medallists capped a tremendous year by winning the Super Series Final in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last night, pocketing a cool USD84,000 (RM376,000).

V Shem-Wee Kiong put up a sterling performance to beat Japan's energetic pair Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda for the first time in straight sets with a score of 21-14, 21-19 in a thrilling final.

Apart from the Olympics, it was their third title this year for the duo who are currently ranked world number one, as they had won the Syed Modi International in India in January and the Denmark Open in October.

V Shem-Wee Kiong had come under heavy pressure since winning the silver medal in Rio since they had failed to make the final of several Super Series events.

They lost in the semifinals of the Korean Open Super Series, lost in the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open, lost in the second round of the Japan Open Super Series and shown the exit in the first round of the French and China Open Super Series.

Their coach Jeremy Gan said though the duo who became partners in 2014 were going through a difficult patch, they never gave up and continued their struggle with determination and the win in Dubai was a great reward.

"I am proud of their achievement this year and I hope this good beginning will be the start of many good results for the duo and country," he told Bernama when contacted today.

Meanwhile, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost Hansen said the performances of V Shem-Wee Kiong this year was the best since they became partners.

"Fantastic year for V Shem and Wee Kiong and we will see much from them in 2017," said Frost. - BERNAMA