Steady rise: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun will likely play home pair Cheng Kai Wen-Liao Chao Pang in the next round in the Taiwan Open.
PETALING JAYA: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun got their Taiwan Open title defence off to a flying start.
The national men’s doubles pair easily swept aside Canada’s Lam Wai Lok-Pong Lap Kan 21-12, 21-11 in the first round at the Tian Mu Arena in Taipei yesterday.
Malaysian Masters runners-up Wei Chong-Kai Wun had captured the title last year after stunning reigning Olympics champions and home favourites Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin in the final.
Based on the draw, they could meet Lee Yang-Chi-lin in the final again.
Men’s doubles coach Tan Bin Shen wants Wei Chong-Kai Wun to regain the form that saw them reach the final of the home tourney last month.
Since then, the pair had suffered exits in the early rounds in both the Singapore and Indonesian Opens.“I hope they can rediscover the form they produced in the Malaysian Masters,” said Bin Shen.
“I believe they can do so if they focus fully on their game plan and play with good fighting spirit.”
Wei Chong-Kai Wun, who are currently ranked No. 23 in the world will likely play home pair Cheng Kai Wen-Liao Chao Pang in the next round.
Meanwhile, independent pair and top seeds Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi had to dig deep before overcoming Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Yang Ming-tse of Taiwan 15-21, 21-12, 21-15.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi will face fellow independent pair and newly formed Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong for a place in the quarter-finals.
Azriyn-Wee Kiong claimed a hard fought 21-17, 18-21, 23-21 victory over South Korea’s Kim Young-hyuk-Wang Chan.
In the men’s singles, Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin survived two qualifying rounds before booking his spot in the main draw.
Aidil battled hard to beat India’s Subhankar Dey 21-17, 18-21, 21-15 in the first round and had to dig deep again to overcome Thailand’s Korakrit Laotrakul 16-21, 22-20, 21-13.
Aidil, who is currently ranked No. 122 in the world, faces and uphill battle next against Japan’s world No. 11 Kenta Nishimoto.
The other men’s singles representatives in the fray in the first round today are Leong Jun Hao and independent trio Cheam June Wei, Soong Joo Ven and Yeoh Seong Zoe.
Jun Hao will play India’s Kiran George while June Wei will take on South Korea’s Jeon Hyeok-jin.
Joo Ven and Seong Zoe will face Hong Kong’s Chan Yin Chak and homester Lin Kuan-ting respectively.
RESULTS
(Malaysians only)
Qualifying tournament
First roundMen’s singles: Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin bt Subhankar Dey (Ind) 21-17, 18-21, 21-15.
Mixed doubles: Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien bt Jonathan Curtin-Anona Pak (Aus) 21-11, 21-11.
Second round
Men’s singles: Aidil bt Korakrit Laotrakul (Tha) 16-21, 22-20, 21-13.
Main draw
First round
Men’s doubles: Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi bt Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Yang Ming-tse (Tpe) 15-21, 21-12, 21-15; Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun bt Lam Wai Lok-Pong Lap Kan (Can) 21-12, 21-11; Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong bt Kim Young-hyuk-Wang Chan (Kor) 21-17, 18-21, 23-21; Chen Zhi-ray-Lu Chen (Tpe) bt Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah 21-17, 21-14.
