Latest news with #RoyKing-Arif
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Young pairs have to improve standings to avoid early all-M'sian clashes
Target locked: Malaysia men's doubles shuttlers Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King will be hoping to clear their Japan Open opening round. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star PETALING JAYA: If Malaysia's young men's doubles pairs want to avoid knocking each other out early in tournaments, there is only one way forward – climb up the rankings. That's the clear advice from national coaching director Rexy Mainaky to Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian, who have repeatedly found themselves drawn against fellow Malaysians in the opening rounds. Most recently, world No. 23 Roy King-Arif were drawn against world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the opening round of the Japan Open starting on Tuesday in Tokyo. It's not an isolated case as this marks the fifth time this year that Roy King-Arif have been pitted against teammates in early rounds after the Opens in India, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. World No. 47 Haikal-Hon Jian, who only returned to competitions this year in May after the former's hip injury, also had to take on Wei Chong-Kai Wun in the Thailand Open first round. Men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi had expressed his frustrations after seeing Roy King-Arif and Wei Chong-Kai Wun clash early again in the Japan tourney after meeting in the second round in their last tournament before this in Indonesia. Rexy said the only way out was for the younger pair to improve their rankings. 'It's definitely a loss for us if two of our pairs are drawn against each other in the first or second round in tournaments as only one pair can progress further,' said Rexy. 'Now, we can see more all-Malaysian clashes early in the men's doubles as more pairs can qualify for top tournaments. 'I have discussed this with Herry as well. Roy King-Arif and Haikal-Hon Jian have no choice but to improve their rankings to avoid facing teammates.' Rexy pointed out that there was a similar scenario in the mixed doubles last year when upcoming pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin were drawn against national No. 1 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei in the early rounds in tournaments. Pang Ron-Su Yin though managed to move up to No. 13 in the world and were no longer pitted against Tang Jie-Ee Wei. 'We have experienced this in the mixed doubles too. Pang Ron-Su Yin initially had to play against Tang Jie-Ee Wei in a few tournaments,' said Rexy. 'Once they moved up the rankings, they were not drawn anymore against the latter. 'So, I want Roy King-Arif and Haikal-Hon Jian to try to break into the top 15 too. 'They need to take their opportunities and do better especially in World Tour Super 300 and 500 competitions and collect more ranking points.' But the good news is that when there is an all-Malaysian clash, one is assured to advance. And in the case of Roy King-Arif and Wei Chong-Kai Wun, the winners will play against Thailand's Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh or China's Huang Di-Liu Yang in the second round.
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rexy: Young pairs have to improve standings to avoid early all-M'sian clashes
PETALING JAYA: If Malaysia's young men's doubles pairs want to avoid knocking each other out early in tournaments, there is only one way forward – climb up the rankings. That's the clear advise from national coaching director Rexy Mainaky to Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian, who have repeatedly found themselves drawn against fellow Malaysians in the opening rounds. Most recently, world No. 23 Roy King-Arif were drawn against world No.7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the opening round of the Japan Open starting on Tuesday in Tokyo. It's not an isolated case as this marks the fifth time this year that Roy King-Arif have been pitted against teammates in early rounds after the Opens in India, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. World No. 47 Haikal-Hon Jian, who only returned to competitions this year in May after the former's hip injury, also had to take on Wei Chong-Kai Wun in the Thailand Open first round. Men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi had expressed his frustrations after seeing Roy King-Arif and Wei Chong-Kai Wun clash early again in the Japan tourney after meeting in the second round in their last tournament before this in Indonesia. Rexy said the only way out was for the younger pair to improve their rankings. "It's definitely a loss for us if two of our pairs are drawn against each other in the first or second round in tournaments as only one pair can progress further," said Rexy. "Now, we can see more all-Malaysian clashes early in the men's doubles as more pairs can qualify for top tournaments. "I have discussed this with Herry as well. Roy King-Arif and Haikal-Hon Jian have no choice but to improve their rankings to avoid facing teammates." Rexy pointed out that there was a similar scenario in the mixed doubles last year when upcoming pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin were drawn against national No. 1 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei in the early rounds in tournaments. Pang Ron-Su Yin though managed to move up to No. 13 in the world and were no longer pitted against Tang Jie-Ee Wei. "We have experienced this in the mixed doubles too. Pang Ron-Su Yin initially had to play against Tang Jie-Ee Wei in a few tournaments," said Rexy. "Once they moved up the rankings, they were not drawn anymore against the latter. So, I want Roy King-Arif and Haikal-Hon Jian to try to break into the top 15 too. "They need to take their opportunities and do better especially in World Tour Super 300 and 500 competitions and collect more ranking points." But the good news is that when there is an all-Malaysian clash, one is assured to advance. And in the case of Roy King-Arif and Wei Chong-Kai Wun, the winners will play against Thailand's Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh or China's Huang Di-Liu Yang in the second round.
The Star
20-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Patience is key as Roy King-Arif wait for their moment in the sun
Time to shine: Malaysia's Yap Roy King (left) and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi hope to step up in their game. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles shuttlers Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi are staying patient in their bid for a breakthrough in higher level tourneys. While senior teammates Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun have been getting the plaudits following their fine performances this year, Roy King-Arif are still searching for their moment in the sun. Roy King-Arif's best display so far this year came in the World Tour Super 300 Orleans Masters where they reached the semi-finals before losing to China's Paris Olympics silver medallists Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang. The world No. 24 pair though have not managed to clear the early rounds in Super 750 and 1000 events so far. In the Singapore and Indonesian Opens earlier this month, Roy King-Arif went down in the second round to world No. 1 independent duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Wei Chong-Kai Wun respectively. The pair though are not letting the defeats bring them down. 'I believe Arif and I need some time to make our mark. We are trying hard to catch up to our seniors,' said Roy King. 'I'm also keep telling Arif to be patient about our partnership. Don't rush, just go with the flow and give our best in training and in tournaments and keep learning.' Currently, Roy King-Arif are the fourth ranked Malaysians in the men's doubles behind Sze Fei-Izzuddin, world No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik and world No. 7 Wei Chong-Kai Wun. The younger pair have never beaten their seniors in tournaments and are looking for a breakthrough. 'For me, we are all fighting for Malaysia. On court, we always give 100 percent,' said Roy King. 'It's more difficult to face our own teammates compared to foreign pairs as we always train together and know each other very well. 'We are opponents on court but we have a good relationship with our seniors. Although we feel a bit down after losing, we still get advice from them on how to do better. We hope to get a breakthrough against them soon.' Roy King-Arif are hoping to turn around their fortunes when they compete next in the back-to-back Japan Open from July 15-20 and China Open from July 22-27.
