China Open set for all-Malaysian mayhem in men's doubles
While world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are aiming to bounce back from their shock first-round exit at last week's Japan Open, it's BAM's No. 2 pair Wei Chong-Kai Wun who have drawn the short straw in Changzhou.
The world No. 7 open their campaign against 23rd-ranked compatriots Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King on Wednesday, with the winners likely to face independent duo Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong, the Japan Open quarter-finalists, in the second round.
And it doesn't get any easier from there — a potential quarter-final showdown against Aaron-Wooi Yik awaits if results go to script, making it a possible run of three all-Malaysian encounters in a row.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, meanwhile, will open against Denmark's world No. 20 Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard of Denmark.
"I'm optimistic the men's doubles pairs, especially Aaron-Wooi Yik, will bounce back stronger and deliver improved results in China," said national coaching director Rexy Mainaky.
"But the draw is really tough, and it's unfortunate that several of our pairs are stuck in the same quarter.
"Wei Chong-Kai Wun have to play Arif-Roy King in the first round, then possibly Azriyn-Wee Kiong, and maybe even Aaron-Wooi Yik in the quarter-finals. It's not ideal, but we're hoping for a better overall showing than we had in Japan."
At the Japan Open, Wei Chong-Kai Wun were the only BAM pair to reach the quarter-finals.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, meanwhile, suffered a surprise defeat to compatriots Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi in the opening round.
World No. 30 Yew Sin-Ee Yi then put together a spirited run to the semi-finals before falling to eventual champions and world No. 3 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea.
Yew Sin also drew headlines off the court, with wife and former Japanese world No. 7 Aya Ohori cheering him on from the stands. Her presence was cheekily credited as a "lucky charm" during the duo's impressive campaign in Tokyo.
They'll be hoping for another spark of luck in Changzhou, where they open against new Chinese pairing Ren Xiang Yu-Sun Wen Jun on Wednesday.
Defending champions Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who will relinquish their world No. 1 ranking on Tuesday, begin their title defence against South Korea's world No. 49 Kang Min Hyuk-Ki Dong Ju on Wednesday.
Also in the fray are world No. 47 Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri, who face a tricky opening match against the scratch Indonesian combination of Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri.
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