Arrogance and excessive partying could cost top Malaysian badminton player Koo Kien Keat a place at the Beijing Olympics, according to his coach.
National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky said former All England doubles champion Koo faces the axe if fails to clean up his act, saying even his partner Tan Boon Heong has had enough of him.
Koo and Tan won the All England men's doubles title in 2007 but were knocked out in the first round in this year's competition.
"I have spoken to Kien Keat about it several times but he does not want to listen. He is too big-headed and even Boon Heong is fed-up with him," Rexy told the New Straits Times.
"The thing that frightens me the most is the rumors I have been hearing about his lifestyle. If women are the main reason for his downfall, he better stay away from the sport.
"Let's see what happens in the coming weeks. If he does not improve, I will have no choice but to drop them from the Olympics."
Rexy said Malaysia has adequate replacements for Koo and Tan after All England semifinalists Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah rose to fourth in the world and Mohd Zakry Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan moved up to 14th.
In addition to their failure at the All England, Koo and Tan were beaten in the second rounds of the Malaysian Open in January and last week's Swiss Open.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily March 19, 2008)