Fire Dragon plots to douse red-hot Won Ho-Seung Jae
National men's doubles coach Herry IP believes the South Korean aces are currently the best in the business, and the Fire Dragon will have the important task of figuring out how to stop them.
"I think the Korean pair are currently the best in the world, followed by Aaron-Wooi Yik and our other Malaysian combinations," said Herry.
"We need to study their strengths and weaknesses thoroughly so our players can beat them in the future."
Won Ho-Seung Jae have taken the badminton world by storm this season, winning four titles in their debut campaign and are expected to rise to world No. 1 next week, ending Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani 's eight-week reign at the summit.
The Korean pair have had the better of Herry's top charges this year — beating world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (1-1 head-to-head), world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (2-0), and splitting meetings with Sze Fei-Izzuddin (1-1) on the BWF World Tour.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun bore the brunt of their power most recently, suffering a 21-13, 18-21, 21-13 defeat in the Japan Open quarter-finals on Friday.
Herry praised the Koreans' maturity and composure, in contrast to his younger Malaysian pair.
"Wei Chong-Kai Wun are still developing. They made too many mistakes, while the Koreans were calm and calculated.
"But overall, I'm happy with their progress. With time, they will grow into a better pair."
The experienced Indonesian coach is now plotting to stop Won Ho-Seung Jae at next week's China Open, where the Koreans will be aiming to complete a historic sweep of the Super 1000 titles this year.
They have already bagged three of the four Super 1000 events on the World Tour - the Malaysia Open, All England, and Indonesia Open - and will be eyeing a clean sweep with victory in China.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Son in tears as he bids emotional farewell to Spurs in Seoul
SEOUL: Departing Tottenham captain Son Heung-min was in tears and his team-mates threw him in the air on an emotional evening in his native South Korea on Sunday. Spurs drew 1-1 with Newcastle in a pre-season friendly in Seoul but that was secondary to the farewell for the 33-year-old attacker. In what could have been his final game for the north Londoners, Son played 65 minutes but did not score at Seoul World Cup Stadium, a day after announcing his decision to leave Tottenham this summer after a decade. He left the pitch to a thunderous ovation from nearly 65,000 fans, hugging his teammates and even his opponents. The South Korean captain was caught offside twice in the early going, as his teammates tried to create opportunities for him, but didn't really assert himself on the match otherwise. Son was replaced in the 65th minute by Mohammed Kudus and he walked off in tears as thousands of fans chanted his name. "I didn't think I was going to cry at first," Son said. "But after hearing a few words from my teammates, leaving the club I've spent so much time with felt really tough. "I felt really, really happy playing this match. Thanks to my fans, my teammates and also my opponents, I've had an unforgettable day." Son, who has been linked with LAFC in Major League Soccer, declined to reveal his next destination, saying: "Nothing has been finalised." Tottenham coach Thomas Frank said he enjoyed the "unbelievable, beautiful scenes" Son had with players from both sides on his way off the pitch. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said his players' reaction to the end of Son's night had not been planned ahead. "I think it was very instinctive from the players," Howe said. "I think that speaks volumes for him as a person and him as a footballer that both teams recognise the way he's played the game." Brennan Johnson's right-footed strike opened the scoring for Tottenham in the fourth minute, and the Welsh forward paid homage to Son by mimicking the South Korean star's camera celebration.
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
South Korean favourite football Son bids tearful farewell to Spurs fans after Seoul showdown
Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-Min acknowledges fans after playing his last game for the club. Football - Pre-Season Friendly - Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur - Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea - August 3, 2025 REUTERS/Kim Soo-Hyeon SEOUL (Bernama-Yonhap): South Korean football icon Son Heung Min bid an emotional farewell to home fans on Sunday, a day after announcing his decision to leave English club Tottenham Hotspur, Yonhap news agency reported. Son, 33, started for Spurs in a pre-season match against Newcastle United at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, playing 65 minutes before being substituted to a standing ovation and tearful goodbye. Over 64,000 fans packed the 66,000-seat stadium in humid and rainy conditions, many donning Son's iconic "Son 7' jersey. Banners and chants filled the stands in tribute to the star's decade-long journey with the London club. Son handed over the captain's armband before leaving the pitch in tears. He hugged teammates, coaching staff and even Newcastle players, who congratulated him on his career. The stadium played a video tribute as Son did a lap of honour, waving and blowing kisses to fans. Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank said the match was "most likely' Son's last with the club. If confirmed, Son will leave as one of Tottenham's all-time greats. Since joining the club in 2015, he has scored 173 goals in 454 appearances, ranking fifth in the club's history. In 2021-22, Son won the Premier League Golden Boot with 23 goals -- the first and only Asian player to receive the honour. Son also captained Tottenham to their first trophy in 17 years when they lifted the UEFA Europa League title in May this year. He is among only 13 players to have lifted silverware as captain for the club. The farewell match marked Tottenham's third pre-season visit to South Korea in four years but was easily the most emotionally charged due to Son's impending departure. Chants of "Nice One, Sonny!' echoed throughout the match, and even after his substitution, fans continued to sing in tribute. Despite not scoring in the match, Son's presence was the highlight, with fans focused on seeing their hometown hero wear the Spurs shirt one last time. The club will continue its pre-season with matches against Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, but Son's participation remains uncertain. As Son closes a historic chapter, he leaves behind a legacy that has redefined Asian representation in top-tier European football. - Bernama-Yonhap
New Straits Times
5 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Checkmate, Malaysia crowns its first chess Grandmaster
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in the nation's history, Malaysia can proudly call one of its own a Grandmaster (GM), the highest title awarded in the world of chess. Yeoh Li Tian, a 25-year-old prodigy from Petaling Jaya, officially earned the coveted GM title after securing his third norm and surpassing the 2500 FIDE rating mark by winning the GM-IM Invitational Chess Championship 2025 held here today. The title, awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is a lifelong honour and places Li Tian among an elite group of fewer than 2,000 Grandmasters worldwide. Speaking to Bernama, Li Tian, who began playing chess at the age of three, admitted that his journey was long and grueling, marked by sacrifices and perseverance. "I always tell people that I have no childhood. So I guess that that will be my biggest sacrifice. "Since young, like even in primary school, I go to school, come back, do my homework and then I start working on chess," he said. When asked about achieving the GM title on home soil, he said the moment was even more meaningful after narrowly missing the opportunity during the 2022 SEA Games in Hanoi. "I felt really relieved and happy to actually get my last norm back in Malaysia. "I hope that it inspires more chess players to play chess," he added. Looking ahead, Li Tian remains uncertain about his next steps but hinted that he might compete in the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand at the end of this year. "Malaysia Chess Federation (MCF) already approached me for this SEA Games. "I think there's a high chance that I will be playing," he said. Meanwhile, MCF President Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi described Li Tian's achievement as a historic milestone in the nation's chess history. He said the MCF is now more determined than ever to nurture and produce more Malaysian GM, with the goal of elevating and strengthening the local chess scene. "I feel the achievement is a new positive and healthy development for the game of chess in the country. "We do not want this achievement to stop here and if can, we want more GM from Malaysia to emerge, just like what has been produced by neighbouring countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines," he said.– Bernama
