All Goh V Shem wants for this year is a consistent and improved performance with his new partner, after the men’s doubles shuttler endured a challenging 2021 with two different players and little result to show for it.
Goh started and ended last year with long-time former partner Tan Wee Kiong, but spent the most part working on his partnership with Low Juan Shen which had yet to take off.
Goh and Tan split ways in August last term after seven-years together, but were reunited one more time for the season ending World Championships after their ranking made the cut.
The 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalists did well to reach the quarter-finals before being ousted by Chinese pair He Ji Ting-Tan Qiang.
Now Goh would resume his partnership with Low, with whom he had suffered five consecutive first-round exits through tournaments held in Europe, and later at the Bali leg.
“It’s not going to be easy to restart with Juan Shen. We have to start building our confidence and working on combinations that work for the upcoming tournaments.
“It will take time, but it is something that we are positive about improving through hard work in training,” Goh told Stadium Astro.
The duo would kick off their 2022 season in March in Europe for the Spain Masters, All-England and Swiss Open.
When he and Tan split up, Goh was quick to secure a deal with Low who was the only front court shuttler playing independently and available at that time.
Rubber gloves manufacturer Top Glove then came onboard as sponsors, allowing Goh to revive his career.
Wee Kiong, meanwhile, went on to partner Tan Kian Meng and fared better, with the pair reaching the Dutch Open final in October.
In early 2021, Goh and Tan reached the Thailand Open 2 final before they were beaten by reigning Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin.
When asked if there was any chance of him reuniting with his old partner again, Goh said: “It’s not so easy, because we are under agreement [with respective sponsors]."
