Full trust: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun’s stayed relaxed and didn’t put pressure on themselves too much during the match against South Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae in the China Open second round.
PETALING JAYA: It’s all about bouncing back without fear for national men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the China Open.
The world No. 13 pair brushed off their quarter-final exit last week at the Hong Kong Open with a stellar 21-19, 21-19 win against world champions Kang Ming-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae of South Korea at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Changzhou yesterday.
It was their second win against the world No. 3 pair in five meetings after having beaten them at the Indonesian Open first round in June.
Ming-hyuk-Seung-jae had just last week made their presence felt by lifting the Hong Kong Open title.
Kai Wun said it was exciting to enter the last eight of a Super 1000 tournament, and are hoping to do better than their result last week.
“We feel very happy, sometimes the win feels even better after we come back from a loss,” said Kai Wun.
“My partner and I just trusted each other’s game. We stayed relaxed and didn’t pressure ourselves too much.”
Wei Chong added that their opponents have had a hectic schedule after they won the Hong Kong Open last week.
“They have had back-to-back competitions lately, which has probably made them slightly tired.
“But we just tried to play our best game and come out with the win,” he said.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun will now battle compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the quarter-finals after they defeated countrymen Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi 21-14, 25-23 in the second round.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin are the favourites after beating Ming-hyuk-Seung-jae for the Japan Open title.
Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating Taiwanese twin brothers Lee Fang-jen-Lee Fang-chih 21-16, 21-16.
They will play Indonesia’s Fajar Rian-Rian Ardianto next.
Meanwhile, women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bowed out in the second round after losing to China’s Li Yijing-Luo Xumin 16-21, 18-21.
Pearly-Thinaah, who won the Hong Kong Open last week, said fatigue played a role during their match and their opponents played a better game on court.
“Our opponents read the game better and controlled their shots. That part gave them the advantage over us,” said Pearly.
