In-form indies: Newly turned pros Goh Sze Fei (left) and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani could be Malaysia’s best hope at the China Open.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia face a tough task in the men’s doubles in the China Open, which kicks off today in the absence of national No. 1 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, who finished runners-up in last year’s edition to home pair Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang, have been forced to skip the tournament this time due to the latter’s toe injury.
The former also missed the Opens in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong and apart from the Japan tourney where world No. 12 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani emerged champions, Malaysia have struggled in the men’s doubles.
None of the country’s pairs made it past the early rounds in the Korean Open while world No. 17 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun were the best performers in the Hong Kong Open where they reached the quarter-finals.
The disappointing performance of the men’s doubles in the Korean and Hong Kong tourneys does not bode well for Malaysia in the China Open which is a World Tour Super 1000 event.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who parted ways with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in the beginning of the month to turn independent, could be Malaysia’s best hope again.
The duo will open their campaign against homesters Chen Boyang-Liu Yi and a win will likely see them face fellow Malaysians Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi in the second round.
World No. 41 Roy King-Arif should have no problems overcoming Americans Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith in the first round.
The other Malaysians in action in the men’s doubles will be Wei Chong-Kai Wun, world No. 19 Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian, world No. 24 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong (No. 57).
Meanwhile, world No. 1 and defending champions Weikeng-Wang Chang will be making their first appearance in competitions since winning silver in the Paris Olympics last month.
The pair will be one of the favourites for the title again and will play French brothers Christo Popov-Toma Popov in the opening round.
