Latest news with #ThailandOpen
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Aaron-Wooi Yik stunned by compatriots at Japan Open
KUALA LUMPUR: Independent men's doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the Japan Open's opening round on Wednesday. World No. 30 Yew Sin-Ee Yi outclassed compatriots and world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik with a commanding 21-15, 21-15 victory at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Heading into the match, Yew Sin-Ee Yi had only beaten the former world champions twice in eight previous encounters. Aaron-Wooi Yik entered the Super 750 tournament in red-hot form, having won the Badminton Asia Championships, Thailand Open and Singapore this year. They were also runners-up at last month's Malaysia Masters. Tipped by many to go deep in Tokyo, the second seeds were instead stunned by a clinical and tactically astute performance from Yew Sin-Ee Yi, who looked composed and unbothered by the lopsided head-to-head record. With the win, Yew Sin-Ee Yi will next face either Japan's Kenya Mitsuhashi-Hiroki Okamura or the United States' Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith in the second round. Meanwhile, world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun survived a marathon opening game before beating compatriots Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King 30-28, 21-12 in 42 minutes. The Malaysia Masters champions will face China's Huang Di and Liu Yang in the next round.
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Pearly-Thinaah's new deal sparks strong Japan Open start
KUALA LUMPUR: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah delivered an immediate return on investment for the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) with a commanding first-round win at the Japan Open on Wednesday. The world No. 3 women's doubles pair, fresh off signing a new four-year deal with BAM last week, breezed past Bulgaria's world No. 16 Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva 21-16, 21-14 in just 31 minutes at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. It was Pearly-Thinaah 's first match since committing to BAM until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and they made it count with a confident, straight-game victory over the reigning European champions. The win continues a fine run of form for the Malaysian pair, who have impressed this season with a title at the Thailand Open, a runner-up finish at the Indonesia Open, a semi-final showing at the Malaysia Masters, and a quarter-final spot in Singapore. Their sharp performance against the Stoeva sisters offers a timely boost and a strong start to their new chapter, as expectations mount for them to deliver on the world stage ahead of the 2028 Olympics. BAM will be hoping the new contract brings stability and renewed focus for Pearly-Thinaah, who are widely regarded as Malaysia's best chance of an Olympic medal in women's doubles. They will next face either Taiwan's Hsieh Pei Shan-Hung En Tzu or the United States' Francesca Corbett-Jennie Gai in the second round.
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Shaqeem ready to roll in Thailand
PETALING JAYA: National bowler Shaqeem Izwan Teh Shahrul Hafiz Teh (pic) sees the Thailand Open as the perfect chance to familiarise himself with the Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl in Bangkok – the same venue set to host the SEA Games from Dec 9-21. The 21-year-old, who only joined the senior squad this year, knows the road ahead won't be easy. Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Full access to Web and App. RM 13.90/month RM 9.73 /month Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter. RM 12.39/month RM 8.63 /month Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rafiq out to defend his Thailand Open title in lead-up to SEA Games
PETALING JAYA: Fresh from a stellar run on the Asian bowling circuit, national ace Rafiq Ismail is looking to defend his Thailand Open title with a steady focus and a healthy dose of humility. The prestigious tournament, scheduled at Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl Ratchayothin in Bangkok from July 17-24, also serves as a crucial lead-up to the 2025 SEA Games, set to be held at the same venue from Dec 14-19. Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Full access to Web and App. RM 13.90/month RM 9.73 /month Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter. RM 12.39/month RM 8.63 /month Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.
The Star
4 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.
