Improved duo: Roy King (right) and Wan Arif are all smiles after winning the Nantes International Challenge. — BAM
PETALING JAYA: It’s a headache for national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky, but one that he doesn’t mind, after newly formed pair Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi won their first international title at the Nantes International Challenge in France yesterday.
Roy King-Arif defeated Indonesian pair Putra Erwiansyah-Patra Harapan 21-16, 14-21, 21-12 in 53 minutes to show that they are on the right track to becoming a better pair after just playing in six tournaments.
They were paired together after Arif’s three-year partnership ended with Mohd Haikal Nazri and the pair have been surprising Rexy despite only starting to compete in tournaments since March.
Roy King, who used to focus in the mixed doubles, has been doing double duty and won the mixed doubles silver at the Cambodia SEA Games with Cheng Su Yin last month.
Arif’s partner Haikal had been partnering Nur Izzuddin Rumsani over the last few months after the latter broke his combination with Goh Sze Fei.
But Izzuddin and Sze Fei’s decision to reunite has left Haikal in the lurch.
Rexy is looking at giving Roy King-Arif more tournaments to improve further.
“Roy King-Arif have shown good progress and their win in Nantes proves their commitment. Hopefully, they can continue to be consistent from now onwards,” said Rexy.
“I want to give them more tournaments to compete and a longer run. Let’s see how it goes.”
Looking at the way Roy King-Arif are progressing, they could add further strength to the national senior men’s doubles squad and Rexy may not want to disrupt a winning combination. Men’s singles: Arnaud Merkle (Fra) bt Jason Alexander (Ina) 21-18, 21-16.
Men’s doubles: Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi (Mas) bt Putra Erwiansyah-Patra Harapan (Ina) 21-16, 14-21, 21-12.
Women’s singles: Komang Au (Ina) bt Liang Ting-yu (Tai) 21-18, 13-21, 21-7.
Women’s doubles: Tanish Crasto-Ashwini Ponnappa (Ind) bt Hung En-tzu-Lin Yu-pei (Tpe) 21-15, 21-14.
