PETALING JAYA:* Amid speculation that Chin Eei Hui might become the new coach for the recently independent men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, the duo has managed to advance to the second round of the Hong Kong Open after a dramatic first-round match.
In their debut tournament since leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), Sze Fei and Izzuddin faced a tough challenge from Taiwan’s Lee Fang-chih and Lee Fang-jen. They narrowly secured victory with scores of 21-17, 15-21, 24-22 in a gripping 60-minute encounter at the Hong Kong Coliseum in Kowloon.
The world No. 12 pair’s next challenge will be against Indonesia’s Shohibul Fikri and Daniel Martin as they vie for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Currently, Sze Fei and Izzuddin are Malaysia’s highest-ranked men’s doubles team in the competition, due to the absence of the world No. 5 pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. They have joined independent coach Rosman Razak’s training setup and may potentially bring Chin Eei Hui on board as their new coach, following Eei Hui’s recent signing with the same sponsor, Victor. Eei Hui, who previously coached Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi, is currently based in New Zealand but might return to Malaysia to work with Sze Fei and Izzuddin.
In other news, national pair Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun advanced to the second round after coming from behind to defeat teammates Yap Roy King and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi with scores of 15-21, 21-8, 21-11. They will next face China’s Xie Haonan and Zeng Weihan.
Youngsters Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing will face a tough opponent today in the first round against South Korea’s world champions Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-Jae, following their qualifying round win over Canada’s Lan Kan Kern and Larry Pong with scores of 21-12, 21-19.
Today’s matches will also see Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, Teoh Mei Xing and Go Pei Kee (women’s doubles), Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, Goh Soon Huat, and Shevon Lai Jemie, Tan Kian Meng and Lai Pei Jing, Yap Roy King and Valerie Siow, Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin, and Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien (mixed doubles) opening their campaigns.
*RESULTS*
*Malaysians only*
*Qualifying Round:*
- Men’s Doubles: Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing defeated Lan Kan Kern and Larry Pong (Can) 21-12, 21-19
- Men’s Doubles: Lim Tze Jian and Wong Tien Ci defeated Chun Kar Lung and Raymond Webster (Eng) 2-0, ret.
*First Round:*
- Men’s Doubles: Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani defeated Lee Fang-chih and Lee Fang-jen (Tpe) 21-17, 15-21, 24-22
- Men’s Doubles: Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun defeated Yap Roy King and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi 15-21, 21-8, 21-11
- Men’s Doubles: Tan Wee Kiong and Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub defeated Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Sogaard (Den) 21-15, 21-23, 21-19.
