All-England champions troubled by "bald head' promise
(Xinhua)Updated: 2007-03-13 08:30
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian shuttlers Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong, who just grabbed All-England men's doubles title, are now troubled by a hard choice: to shave their heads clean or not.
 Malaysia's Tan Boon Heong (L) and Koo Kien Keat hold up the trophy after beating China's Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng in the men's double final match at the All England badminton championships in Birmingham, England March 11, 2007. [Reuters] |
Koo made a promise before departing for Birmingham, saying he would have his head shaven clean if he could return victorious, local media reported Monday night, adding Tan was more than eager to join his partner aboard the same boat.
Now with the All-England men's doubles gold medal secured, which Malaysia lost 25 years, the pair hesitated over whether to keep their promises or not.
"I have an easy mind when fighting in the final but now I am under tremendous pressure. Right now, I am not sure if I will fulfill the promise I made before my teammates," Koo was quoted as saying by the Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily on its website.
The duo, who emerged as partners only four months ago, defeated world top seeds Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng of China 21-15, 21-18 Sunday night in the All-England event.
Their triumph cheered both the Malaysian public and media. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi watched the match on TV and even made a phone call to congratulate them.
Last year in Doha Asian Games, the pair ended this country's 36-year-long waiting for an Asian Games badminton gold. They continued the success journey in Malaysia Open Badminton this January.
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