Latest news with #Super300MacauOpen
The Star
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
From hard times to high five, Roy King-Arif starting to jive under coach Herry
PETALING JAYA: Hard times shape champions and men's doubles shuttlers Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi are beginning to show just that. After a slow start, Roy King-Arif showed that they have finally adapted well under coach Herry Iman Pierngadi's guidance. World No. 24 Roy King-Arif, who combined in 2023, ended their wait for a World Tour title in the Super 300 Macau Open after brilliantly toppling Indonesia's world No. 8 Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza 22-20, 21-18 at the Macau East Asian Games Dome on Sunday. The pair made it count in their first final since finishing runners-up to Sabar-Moh in the Spain Masters last year. The 24-year-old Roy King and Arif, 23, were pleased to finally get their reward together. 'We are satisfied with this win as we have waited so long for a title,' said Arif. They had to bide their time this year after struggling for a breakthrough in their previous tournaments. The duo's best result before this was a semi-final finish in the Orleans Masters in March while their only title previously was in the 2023 Nantes International Challenge. 'Our last final was last year in March where we faced the same opponents and lost. So, avenging that defeat is very satisfying,' said Arif. 'Before this, I found it hard to adapt to Herry's coaching and the tactics he wants us to implement. 'He has only been guiding us in about five tournaments so far. 'Now, we are starting to get used to his coaching in training as well. We hope to keep improving after this.' Herry only took over from Tan Bin Shen as the men's doubles head coach in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in February. 'This is a very meaningful victory for me and Arif. Both of us are very happy with our performance in the final,' said Roy King. 'I just keep telling myself to trust the process and be prepared when the opportunity comes. 'I think hard moments make us who we are now, so we just need to keep taking it step by step.' Roy King hopes to continue his good form with Arif in the World Championships from Aug 25-31 where the pair will be making their debut. 'Beating a top 10 pair and winning this title has given us a confidence boost before the world meet,' said Roy King. 'Hopefully, there will be more to come from us and we want to continue our form in Paris.'
The Star
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Veteran Pei Jing shows she is still hungry for glory
Going places: Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing were the first Malaysians to reach a World Tour final in the mixed doubles this year. PETALING JAYA: Teaming up with Jimmy Wong is proving to be the right decision for shuttler Lai Pei Jing. Jimmy and Pei Jing impressed by upstaging several higher ranked pairs to reach the mixed doubles final in their first World Tour outing together in the Super 300 Macau Open. Currently ranked 127th in the world, the duo, who only combined in March, lost 13-21, 16-21 to Denmark's Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje in the final at the Macau East Asian Games Dome on Sunday. Despite missing out on their first title together, Pei Jing, who will turn 33 on Friday, was happy to defy her age and get on the podium again in the World Tour. She last won a World Tour title in 2022 in the Korean Open with former partner Tan Kian Meng. Pei Jing finished runners-up last year in the women's doubles with Lim Chiew Sien in the Australian Open. 'It feels great to be back on the tour and to be able to stand on the podium again,' said Pei Jing. 'To be honest, I never expected that. I'm happy for Jimmy too. I'm happy with his performance throughout the week. 'Hopefully, we can keep this momentum and get better. This is just the beginning. 'I know there will be more obstacles after this for us to go through but I guess I'm really for it. 'I'll wait for the silver to turn gold one day.' Jimmy, who turns 23 later this month, and Pei Jing were the first Malaysians to reach a World Tour final in the mixed doubles this year. In fact, the pair have reached the final in four out of the six tournaments they have competed in so far. Jimmy-Pei Jing also made it into the title match in the Vietnam International Challenge, Phuket International Series and St Denis Reunion Open but finished runners-up all three times. The pair will be out to clinch their first title together when they team up next in the Super 100 China Masters from Sept 2-7.
The Star
28-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Mei Xing-Pei Kee combo set to gain traction with expected top 20 ranking
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Teoh Mei Xing deserves credit for rebuilding her career in the women's doubles with Go Pei Kee after a series of setbacks. Mei Xing was on a promising path with previous partner Anna Cheong but their combination was cruelly cut short after the latter tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in her right knee at the end of 2022. Anna tried to make a comeback with Mei Xing in 2023 but never fully recovered and was forced to retire from the sport. The pair reached a career high No. 17 before Anna's injury and looked capable of breaking into the world's top 10. Without Anna, Mei Xing played in the mixed doubles with Hoo Pang Ron for a short while. It looked like her career was also going to peter out but the 28-year-old refused to give up and has found a new lease of life after combining with Pei Kee last year. Mei Xing is set to return to the top 20 in the world again with the 23-year-old when the official rankings list are updated today. Mei Xing-Pei Kee, who are currently ranked at No. 22, pulled off a sensational victory over Japan's world No. 8 Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi to reach the ongoing China Open quarter-finals in Changzhou. Although the duo then lost to world No. 7 home pair Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian, it was still a breakthrough for them after making it into their maiden World Tour Super 1000 last eight. It was also Mei Xing-Pei Kee's first win over a pair ranked in the top 10. Mei Xing hopes the breakthrough will be the start of more for her and Pei Kee. 'This is our best performance this year and we are feeling positive,' said Mei Xing. 'We hope to keep going. Our aim next is to try to win a Super 300 or 500 title.' Mei Xing-Pei Kee's only title so far together is the Malaysia Super 100 which they clinched last October. The pair have an opportunity to build on their performance in China when they compete next in the Super 300 Macau Open which starts on Tuesday. Mei Xing-Pei Kee are out to progress further in the tourney after quarter-final finishes in the Indonesian Masters, Orleans Masters and German Open this year.
