Malaysia assured of French Open semi-final spot as doubles pairs meet
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will face Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, while Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani take on the world's top-ranked pair.
An all-Malaysian quarter-final between Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun at the French Open on Oct 23 guarantees Malaysia representation in the men's doubles semi-finals at Arena Grand Paris.
The pairs took different routes through the second round on Oct 22. Fourth-ranked Aaron-Wooi Yik received a walkover from Thailand's Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul, while world No. 11 Wei Chong-Kai Wun defeated Japan's former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi 25-23, 21-14.
Both partnerships resumed competing together at the Denmark Open after several months playing alongside other shuttlers. Aaron-Wooi Yik made the final there, whereas Wei Chong-Kai Wun exited in the opening round. In eight previous meetings between the Malaysian pairs, Wei Chong-Kai Wun have recorded three wins. Their latest defeat came in March at the All England in Birmingham.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani also progressed, beating Danish opponents Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard 21-6, 14-21, 21-18. Their next opponents are South Korea's world No. 1 partnership Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae, who defeated Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King 21-14, 21-16 to rule out a second quarter-final involving only Malaysians.
Sze Fei welcomed the presence of three Malaysian pairs in the quarter-finals, describing it as a positive indication of the country's progress.
