Malaysia's independent duo Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah made a shock exit from the World Championships, going down 20-22,21-17,18-21 to unheralded German pairing of Kristof Hopp and Johannes Schuttler at the Pierre de Courbertin Stadium in Paris.
And the duo, who will split ways at the end of the year, have only themselves to blame as they failed to settle in and were inconsistent throughout the 47 minute match.
Seeded 16, the pair were expected to ease into the second round but their performance was woeful to say the least.
And while the defeat was bitter, the duo did not mince words when asked what their plans were after splitting up.
Tan Fook will move to Hong Kong, to assume the position of national coach while Wan Wah is scouting around, looking for someone to play with as a pair.
And when asked why they did not consider taking up coaching positions with BAM, they replied in unison:
"There has been no approach whatsoever made by BAM so what is there to consider?' was Wan Wah's curt reply.
"We are open to options but can only be serious if there is an approach made. But till now no one has spoken to us on any possibility to coach in Malaysia."
Tan Fook said that he was still awaiting details with regards to the coaching position in Hong Kong and that was an option he would grab as it meant being nearer to his wife, Zhang Jie Wen who is based in Ghuanzhou.
"It takes me only two hours to commute to Ghuanzhou should I take up the offer from Hong Kong," said Tan Fook."
On their defeat, the duo refused to use their late arrival (they arrived at noon on Sunday, barely 24 hours before their match) as an excuse.
"We only have ourselves to blame and credit to the opponents who played very well," conceded Wan Wah.
The Malaysians are not the only pair going separate ways for their opponents too will split after the World Championships.
Kristof Hopp said that he was retiring after the tournament.
"We went in there today with a belief that we can we could win and gave it our best shot. It is indeed a sweet win and hopefully it will spur us to do better as after this I will be quitting," said Hopp.
