Wei Chong-Kai Wun Salvage Malaysia’s Gloomy Day at Japan Masters

PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun salvaged an otherwise disappointing day for Malaysia after becoming the country’s second representatives to advance to the round of 16 at the Japan Masters badminton tournament in Kumamoto, Japan, today.

The world No. 9 pair defeated Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 21-18, 21-23, 21-13 in 56 minutes in the opening round.

The victory allowed Wei Chong-Kai Wun to extend their head-to-head record against the world No. 28 Thai pair to 2-0.

In tomorrow’s round of 16, Malaysia’s No. 3 men’s doubles pair will face world No. 14 Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard of Denmark.

Wei Chong-Kai Wun previously suffered a defeat to Lundgaard-Vestergaard at the China Masters two years ago, and tomorrow’s encounter presents an ideal opportunity for them to avenge that loss.

Meanwhile, mixed doubles pair Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin suffered a different fate, losing 8-21, 21-23 to world No. 6 Guo Xin Wa-Chen Fang Hui in 36 minutes.

The defeat made Jimmy-Su Yin the sixth Malaysian representatives to be eliminated in the round of 32 today, with only Wei Chong-Kai Wun and Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing overcoming their opening-round opponents on the tournament’s second day.

Yesterday, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani and Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King had already secured their places in the next round.

The two Malaysian men’s doubles pairs will face each other on Friday in a battle for a place in the quarter-finals.

UTUSAN MALAYSIA