Malaysia secure French Open crown with all-Malaysian men's doubles final
The country will contest three finals at a Super 750 tournament for the first time, with mixed and women's doubles pairs also advancing.
Malaysia are guaranteed the French Open men's doubles title after Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani won their semi-finals in Paris. Their meeting will deliver the country's first title in the discipline since Gan Teik Chai-Koo Kien Keat won in 2004, ending a 22-year wait.
Malaysian pairs also progressed in mixed and women's doubles, putting the country into three of the tournament's five finals and leaving a three-title haul possible.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun, ranked No. 11 in the world, beat Indonesia's No. 14 pair Raymond Indra-Niklaus Joaquin 21-16, 21-15 at Arena Grand Paris. It is their first Super 750 final. Fifth-ranked Sze Fei-Izzuddin took 31 minutes to defeat Indonesia's Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin, ranked No. 25, by 22-20, 21-9.
Wei Chong said in a Badminton World Federation interview that his knee had improved without fully recovering. He credited Kai Wun's support during the semi-final with helping him feel less pressure. The pair had exited the Denmark Open in the first round.
Pang Ron-Pei Jing, the world No. 31 mixed doubles pair, overcame China's sixth seeds Guo Xin Wa-Cheng Fang Hui 21-13, 21-9 in 31 minutes. They next meet China's world No. 1 pair Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping, whom they also faced in the China Masters final.
Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah earned a second successive Super 750 final appearance, beating Japan's Rin Iwanaga-Kei Nakanishi 21-17, 22-20. The fourth-ranked Malaysians will play Japan's world No. 3 pair Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto for the women's doubles title.
