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Built to last

Built to last

The Star3 days ago
Promising pair: Chan Wen Tse (left) and Wee Yee Hern (right) posing with their coach Lutfi Zaim after their Thailand International Series win.
PETALING JAYA: Young shuttler Chan Wen Tse has showed that her partnership with Wee Yee Hern is here to stay after winning the Thailand International Series.
World No. 144 Yee Hern-Wen Tse showed promise when they pulled off an impressive 22-20, 21-16 win over world No. 64 home pair Ratchapol Makkasasithorn-Nattamon Laisuan in Korat yesterday.
The 20-year-olds, who only combined early this year, stayed composed to win a close opening game before sealing the victory in just 33 minutes.
Wen Tse, who hails from Kelantan is hoping that the title in Thailand will be the first of many from them.
'I'm really happy to win my first title with Yee Hern.
'This is just the beginning for us and we'll keep working hard for more titles in the future,' said Wen Tse.
The win was sweet revenge for Yee Hern-Wen Tse after losing to the Thai pair in the last four of the Sri Lanka International Series in March.
'We prepared well both physically and mentally for this tournament,' she said.
'The key to our win was staying focused, communicating constantly and sticking to our game plan.'
Yee Hern-Wen Tse were only competing in their second tournament together after reuniting following a brief split when Wen Tse was combined with Chen Tang Jie.
Spurred on by the win, Wen Tse is next out to break into the top 50 in the world rankings with Yee Hern.
'This win gives us great confidence to keep pushing and aiming higher in our next tournaments,' said Wen Tse.
'Our trust and teamwork help us perform well as a pair. We hope to next break into the world's top 50.'
Yee Hern-Wen Tse will have an opportunity to grab back-to-back titles when they play next in the Malaysian International Challenge starting tomorrow in Ipoh, Perak.
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A Thai storm in KLGCC - Thai golfers flex the muscles and sweep all five places up for grabs at Maybank Championship Asean Qualifiers
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ASEAN golf talents secure spots for Maybank Championship 2025
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FOLLOWING two days and 36 holes of top-notch golf action, Thailand's rising amateur star, Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul showcased pinpoint precision and perfect poise to rise to the top with a total score of 7-under-par 137 after adding a second round 70 to her opening 67, which featured a hole-in-one. 'I'm very happy I have qualified to play in the Maybank Championship on the LPGA Tour. It means a lot to me. It'll be my first professional tournament outside of Thailand. I hope I can play as well in October as I did over the past two days in front of my 2 Malaysian friends,' said the 17-year-old, reflecting on the moment that propelled her onto the LPGA stage. Following closely behind were Achiraya Sriwong (amateur), Namo Luangnitikul (amateur), Cholcheva Wongras and Kan Bunnabodee, who made it a Thai sweep in the qualifier as they claimed the remaining four spots after battling through a tight contest among 69 players from the ASEAN region. The 16-year-old Sriwong, the highest ranked amateur in the field at World No. 41, carded the day's best of 67 for solo second, two behind Kaopattanaskul. Luangnitikul finished third on 144 following a 71, while Wongras and Bunnabodee shared fourth position after rounds of 71 and 72 respectively to complete the top-5 qualifiers for the US$3 million (RM12.6m) Maybank Championship, which will be played on the West Course from October 30-November 2. Malaysian duo Ng Jing Xuen (70) and Genevieve Ling (74) shared sixth place after a hard fought round, finishing only one shot outside the top-5.

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