Pei Kee-Mei Xing stun world No. 8 to reach first Super 1000 quarter-final
Pei Kee-Mei Xing battled to a hard-fought 26-24, 7-21, 21-18 win in the second round - their biggest scalp to date to qualify for their first-ever Super 1000 quarter-final.
Malaysia will now have two pairs in the women's doubles last eight, with world No. 3 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah also progressing earlier in the day.
Pei Kee-Mei Xing will face China's world No. 7 Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian for a place in the semi-finals on Friday.
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New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Herry arms Aaron-Wooi Yik and Co with video weapon for World tilt
KUALA LUMPUR: With the margins between the world's top men's doubles pairs thinner than ever, national coach Herry IP is banking on video analysis to find the edge at next week's World Championships in Paris. Herry, fondly known as the Fire Dragon, said the focus in recent weeks has been on dissecting opponents' strengths and weaknesses while sharpening his own charges' game plans. "Men's doubles is extremely tight now, the margins are very small," he said after training at the Academy Badminton Malaysia on Tuesday. "Whoever is better prepared and able to take their chances on the day will win. That's why video analysis is so important — to know where we are strong, where we are weak, and how the opponents play." Herry explained that he and his team are studying only recent matches to ensure the data is relevant. "It cannot be more than three or four months old, because players can change and improve," he said. "We are using the Japan Open and China Open as references to study patterns and habits." The approach has already been applied to world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who are tipped to face top-ranked Koreans Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae in the quarter-finals. The Malaysians have yet to beat them in two meetings but took a game off the Koreans at last month's Japan Open. "We analysed that match — they lost the first game, won the second. What was the difference?" said Herry. "That is the game plan. Watching the video helps the players remember what works and what doesn't." World No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik remain Malaysia's best medal hopes, with a favourable draw placing them in the bottom half. But Herry warned there are no easy matches at this level. "Being seeded helps, but anything can happen. All pairs from the top nations — Korea, Indonesia, China, Denmark — are strong. The difference is very small." Malaysia will also be represented by world No. 3 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and world No. 22 Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King, who are making their World Championships debut.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Fajar-Rian out to mark 11-year union with title
Tall order: Indonesia's Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto could take on Denmark's Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the quarter-finals. PETALING JAYA: Indonesia's men's doubles shuttler Fajar Alfian is out to crown his 11-year partnership with Rian Ardianto with their first gold in the World Championships. Fajar is set to reunite with Rian in the prestigious meet from Aug 25-31 in Paris after a brief split. The 30-year-old Fajar is in fine from, winning the China Open title in his last tournament with Shohibul Fikri last month. Fajar is keen to replicate his performance this time with Rian, 29 in Paris. 'We definitely want to mark our 11-year partnership by winning the world title,' said Fajar in an interview posted in the Indonesian National Badminton Association (PBSI) website. 'We have never won gold before, so it will be very meaningful if we can finally end our long wait in Paris. 'Based on the draw, it won't be easy. We need to focus fully on each match.' Fajar-Rian's best achievement in the world meet so far was winning bronze in the 2019 and 2022 editions. The pair, who are currently ranked No. 4 in the world, have been placed in the top half of the draw this time with the likes of South Korea's world No. 1 Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho, Denmark's world No. 5 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen and Malaysia's Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (No. 7). Fajar-Rian could take on Astrup-Rasmussen in the quarter-finals before a possible last four clash against either Seung-jae-Won-ho or Wei Chong-Kai Wun. The Indonesians need to raise their game after struggling for form this year with their best showing together coming at home in the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta in January where they finished runners-up to Wei Chong-Kai Wun. Indonesia's hopes in Paris in the men's doubles will also be on world No. 8 Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza and world No. 10 Leo Rolly-Bagas Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan were the last Indonesians to win the men's doubles title in 2019.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- New Straits Times
What Jun Hao needs to do to 'stay alive' in Paris
KUALA LUMPUR: National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen sees a window of opportunity for Leong Jun Hao at the Paris World Championships from Aug 25–31 despite the shuttler facing some big names in the early rounds. Debutant Jun Hao, who is ranked world No. 25, will potentially meet Japan's Kenta Nishimoto (No. 14) and Taiwan's Chou Tien Chen (No. 6) in difficult second and third round matches respectively. The former Asian Junior champion has beaten several world top 10 players, including Tien Chen (head-to-head 1-1). Against Nishimoto, it's 3-2. Jun Hao, 26, stands a fighting chance of making it to the quarter-finals and put himself in contention for a medal. "Jun Hao has a positive draw, and there are chances (of good results) if he performs at his highest level and stays consistent every day (in Paris)," said Jonassen. "For now, we need to focus on the next 10 days and get our final preparations done." Jun Hao should clear the first round against Switzerland's world No. 147 Tobias Kuenzi. However, much will depend on his ability to string together more than one big win after that, as his inconsistency has stymied his chances of achieving better results. Jun Hao defeated Nishimoto in the first round of the China Open last month, but lost to Thailand's world No. 3 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the second. At the Singapore Open, he overcame Indonesia's world No. 5 Jonatan Christie in the second round but lost to Kunlavut in the last eight. At the India Open in January, Jun Hao started well by toppling China's world No. 4 Li Shi Feng, but was beaten by China's world No. 16 Weng Hong Yang next. So it will be important for Jun Hao to "show up in every round", as pointed out by Jonassen, in order to make a strong impact in Paris. Jonassen, who led the Danish team at the Olympics last year, is well aware of the court conditions at the Adidas Arena in Paris. "As for the court conditions, I believe we have a good understanding after last year's Olympics in terms of what to expect," added Jonassen. Though Jun Hao didn't qualify for the Paris Olympics, he had competed in the Adidas Arena at the French Open earlier.
