Sitting pretty: Only two pairs from a country can qualify for the World Tour Finals and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are already assured of a place as they are third.
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian men’s doubles pairs will have different objectives when they compete in the Japan Masters which starts today in Kumamoto.
Malaysia boast seven pairs in the tournament and have the second highest number of representatives in the men’s doubles behind only Taiwan, who have a whopping nine pairs in the tourney.
National No. 1 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and No. 2 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are Malaysia’s best bets to win the title as the other pairs are still searching for consistency.
The others in the fray are Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri, Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, who captured their first World Tour crown this year in the Korean Masters on Sunday, are out to continue their good form as they eye a spot in the World Tour Finals from Dec 11-15 in Hangzhou.
The pair, who are currently in 10th spot in the Race to Hangzhou rankings, face a tough battle to overtake seventh placed teammates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and make the cut.
Only two pairs from a country can qualify and Sze Fei-Izzuddin are already assured of a place as they sit at third.
Former world champions Aaron-Wooi Yik need to reach at least the semi-finals to remain alive in the qualifying race while Wei Chong-Kai Wun need a similar result to stay ahead of the former.
The two-time Olympic Games bronze medallists Aaron-Wooi Yik will open their campaign against Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard while the world No. 14 Wei Chong-Kai Wun will play French brothers Christo Popov-Toma Junior Popov in the first round.
“A good end to our year will be qualifying for the World Tour Finals and we hope we can make it,” said Aaron.
Meanwhile, Sze Fei-Izzuddin will be out to continue their stunning record of winning a title every month since capturing the Japan Open in August.
The independent pair also claimed the China Open in September and Arctic Open last month.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s first round opponents are Taiwan’s Lin Bing-wei-Su Ching-heng.
For youngsters Roy King-Arif, learning from top pairs and improving their own performance will be their main aim in the tourney.
The pair, who recently reached a career high No. 25 in the world rankings, have a tough opening match against homesters and 2021 world title winners Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi.
“We have watched Hoki-Kobayashi since we were younger and we know they are a strong pair.
“We will fight hard against them,” said Roy King.
“We want to learn from them and at the same time we hope to play our best too.”
