KUALA LUMPUR: Making a daring shift in their career path, just one year after tying the knot was not easy for Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong, but the Malaysian men's doubles pair are not in the mood to let their loved ones down.
On Wednesday, the former World no 1 notched their first win as an independent pair when they saw off local duo Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh 21-13, 21-15 to reach the second round of the Thailand Masters in Bangkok.
Admitting that situations can get tough, the 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medallists, who quit the BA of Malaysia (BAM) last month, are looking forward to a fresh change in their badminton careers.
When contacted, V Shem who got married in December 2017, said: "The decision to quit (BAM) was never an easy one. Both Wee Kiong (who also got married in 2017) and I did not just discuss this with our wives but with our parents as well.
"There were many things that needed consideration such as financial matters and planning for the family.
"However, we don't regret our decision to leave BAM. We had to do it.
"I believe we will never stop learning and this phase right now will only bring us new experiences in life."
On Tuesday, fellow Olympic silver medallists, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying also reached the second round after chalking up their first win as a professional pair but unlike the mixed doubles duo, who also quit the national body last month, V Shem-Wee Kiong have yet to secure an equipment sponsorship deal.
"We have yet to sign with anybody, we are still on the lookout," added V Shem, who also thanked Peng Soon and another independent player, Lim Khim Wah for sitting in as their coach during their first round match.
V Shem-Wee Kiong, who have yet to win a title since clinching the 2016 World Super Series Finals in Dubai, will face Japan's Masato Takano-Yoshiki Tsukamoto or England’s Ben Lane-Sean Vendy on Thursday, for a place in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, it was a stroll in the park for national No 2 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi who made easy work of Vietnam's Tuan Duc Do-Hong Nam Pham, with a 21-10, 21-7 drubbing.
The sixth seeds play Thailand's Tinn Isriyanet-Nipitphon Phuangphuapet next.
Also reaching the second round on Wednesday was national men's singles, Cheam June Wei. The Penang-born upset Indonesia's Ihsan Maulana Mustofa 21-18, 11-21, 21-15 in the first round to set a date with local shuttler, Pannawit Thongnuam.
It was, however, the end of the road for Soong Joo Ven, who went down in three games 12-21, 21-18, 21-13 to Japan's Koki Watanabe.
Women's singles, Lee Ying Ying was also sent packing in the opening round, losing 18-21, 21-9, 23-21 to Indonesia's Fitriani Fitriani.
Resource: https://www.nst.com.my/sports/badminton/2019/01/448728/v-shem-wee-kiong-dont-want-let-loved-ones-down
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