Latest news with #IndonesiaMasters
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Kai Wun targets third title to boost World Tour Finals bid
TEE KAI WUN is determined to secure a third title with doubles partner Man Wei Chong to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals. The pair, currently ranked seventh globally, have already claimed victories at the Indonesia Masters and Malaysia Masters this season. Kai Wun emphasised the importance of maintaining focus ahead of their next challenge—the World Championships in Paris from August 25 to 31. 'We'll definitely fight for the World Championships because everyone wants to play in such a big tournament. But it's not just about that; this year, we're targeting a spot in the World Tour Finals, so every tournament matters,' he said after a training session. Despite their high ranking, Kai Wun acknowledged the tough competition ahead. 'Being in the top eight means we could face a top-four seed as early as the quarter-finals. Anyone in the top 10 can win, but our goal is to bring back a medal,' he added. - Bernama
New Straits Times
02-08-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Arif-Roy King win all-Malaysian battle to make Macau Open final
KUALA LUMPUR: Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King emerged triumphant in an all-Malaysian semi-final showdown at the Macau Open, overcoming Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri 21-13, 21-15 on Saturday to earn a shot at the men's doubles title. The world No. 24's kept alive their bid for a maiden World Tour crown, which would be their first together and Malaysia's first men's doubles title at the event in 12 years. The last time a Malaysian pair contested the title match in Macau was in 2013, when Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong lifted the crown. Since then, only two other pairs — Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in 2019 and Nur Azriyn Ayub-Wee Kiong in 2024 — had made it as far as the semi-finals. Arif-Roy King, who are currently the third-ranked pair in the national team behind world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, will now have a golden chance to close the gap with their senior teammates. The opportunity is also there for them to claim the bragging rights as World Tour winners — albeit at Super 300 level — as their more established compatriots have already bagged two titles each this season. Aaron-Wooi Yik lifted the Singapore Open (Super 750) and Thailand Open (Super 500), while Wei Chong-Kai Wun triumphed at the Indonesia Masters and Malaysia Masters, both Super 500 events. Arif-Roy King had previously reached the final of a World Tour event once — the Spain Masters in March last year — but had to settle for runners-up. Their best run this year was making the semi-finals of the Orleans Masters in France, while they also reached the quarter-finals of the Indonesia Masters, German Open and Thailand Open. Although the two pairs train together daily under the national setup, this was the first time Arif-Roy King and Hon Jian-Haikal had faced each other competitively on the World Tour. For world No. 52 Hon Jian-Haikal, the semi-final run was a much-needed breakthrough after returning from an injury-disrupted spell in May. In their six outings prior to Macau, they suffered first-round exits on five occasions. This time, they made their presence felt — most notably by stunning former world No. 1 and Asian Games gold medallists Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy of India in the quarter-finals. Awaiting Arif-Roy King in Sunday's final will be either last year's runners-up Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani of Indonesia or Taiwanese brothers Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen.
New Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Pang Ron-Su Yin end first-round curse in Japan
KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed doubles Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin showed signs of a long-awaited revival as they advanced to the second round of the Japan Open on Wednesday — ending a run of three consecutive first-round exits. The world No. 13 overcame a spirited challenge from American world No. 29 Presley Smith-Jennie Ga, winning 21-19, 12-21, 21-16 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. It marked only the fourth time this season that Pang Ron-Su Yin have progressed beyond the first round. The pair, who reached the China Masters final late last year, have struggled to replicate that form, with their momentum further hampered by an ankle injury suffered by Su Yin earlier in the season. Other than reaching the second round of the German Open and making quarter-final appearances at the Indonesia Masters and Orleans Masters, they have suffered five first-round exits this year. However, against the Americans, Pang Ron-Su Yin showed grit and flashes of their potential to pull through in a tight decider. They will next face China's world No. 2 Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin on Thursday. It was a strong day overall for Malaysia's mixed doubles department, with Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai also securing first-round wins. World No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who reunited earlier this year after a brief split, needed just 29 minutes to beat Canada's Kevin Lee-Josephine Wu 21-15, 21-19. Since reuniting, the pair have reached the Indonesia Open semi-finals and will be hoping for a successful out in the Super 750 tournament. They next face Indonesia's world No. 14 Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu. Also off to a flying start were world No. 6 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, who cruised past Thailand's world No. 15 Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat — fresh off their Canada Open title — with a 21-15, 21-10 win in just 30 minutes. The independent pair will face Singapore's world No. 23 Terry Hee-Jin Yu Jia next. However, there was disappointment for world No. 34 Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien, who were beaten 21-9, 21-8 by Japan's world No. 24 Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara in the opening round.
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Rexy wants Malaysia to make winning badminton world titles a habit
KUALA LUMPUR: National coaching director Rexy Mainaky wants Malaysia to make winning at the World Championships a habit, not a one-off. The former Olympic and world men's doubles champion believes consistent success at the highest level will inspire younger players in the national team to aim higher. Rexy was speaking about Malaysia's senior men's doubles pairs, who are among the favourites to win the world title in Paris on Aug 25-31. World No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik ended the nation's long wait for a world title in Tokyo in 2022, and Rexy believes history can repeat itself if the pairs maintain their red-hot form on the World Tour. Rexy also tipped women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, ranked world No. 3, to be potential dark horses in Paris. Aaron-Wooi Yik will be joined by world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, while independent pair and world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are the hot favourites in Paris. "The seniors must show the younger pairs that it's not just a dream — we can win the World Championships again," said Rexy at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara on Friday. "We've already won one, and now we should target more. In Paris, we're looking to Aaron-Wooi Yik, Wei Chong-Kai Wun or even Pearly-Thinaah to deliver. "Success at that level will show the younger pairs that it's possible — it's something Malaysia has done before." The national pairs have enjoyed a dream first half of the season. Aaron-Wooi Yik won three titles — the Badminton Asia Championships in April, Thailand Open in May and Singapore Open in June — while Wei Chong-Kai Wun bagged the Indonesia Masters and Malaysia Masters titles. Pearly-Thinaah added the Thailand Open title to their resume and finished runners-up at both the Indonesia Masters and Indonesia Open. Rexy now wants the momentum to continue at the Japan Open (July 15-20) and China Open (July 22-27) as part of their build-up to the World Championships. "It's easy to become a champion. Staying consistent — that's the real challenge," said Rexy. "But our players have shown hunger, and that's a good sign. Aaron-Wooi Yik and Wei Chong-Kai Wun have said they want more than what they've achieved. That's the mentality we want — never satisfied with rankings or titles." He also confirmed that Wooi Yik has recovered from a recent hand issue caused by fatigue and is back in full training. "Things are looking positive, and we're hopeful for strong results in Japan and China before heading to Paris," added Rexy.
New Straits Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Coach Rosman working to groom successors to Pearly-Thinaah
KUALA LUMPUR: National women's doubles coach Rosman Razak is laying the groundwork to develop multiple world-class pairs, with an eye on the future beyond world No. 3 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah. While Thailand Open champions Pearly-Thinaah remain his main focus, Rosman is steadily preparing their successors, hoping to build depth in the national team. "My priority is still Pearly-Thinaah, but that doesn't mean the work stops there," said the former national shuttler. "The groundwork to develop the No. 2 and No. 3 pairs is ongoing. I believe in being fair — any pair can progress with the right attitude and support." World No. 22 Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing, ranked second in the country, have shown solid improvement this season, reaching the quarter-finals at the Indonesia Masters, German Open, and Orleans Open. Meanwhile, teenage duo Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee, both 19 and ranked No. 41 in the world, are Malaysia's third-best pair and are beginning to make their mark internationally. Their best result this year came in March when they reached the quarter-finals of the Vietnam International Challenge. Rosman is cautious not to overhype Carmen-Xin Yee but admitted they are currently ahead of the other juniors. "Carmen-Xin Yee are slightly ahead, but the rest are catching up," he said. "We need to let them grow steadily without putting too much pressure." Among the rising talents are World Junior Championships silver medallists Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu, who are making progress in lower-tier international events. Dania, 18, and Zi Yu, 15, the world No. 217, won the Slovak Open last month and reached the semi-finals of both the Austrian and Slovenia Opens. "Dania-Zi Yu have great potential, but they need more time and exposure," said Rosman.
