Go for broke: Ong Yew Sin (right) and Teo Ee Yi’s best result this year was in the Indian Open in January where they reached the semi-finals. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: It has been two years since national men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi last won a World Tour title.
Can the 10th ranked independent pair end their drought in the upcoming tournaments?
Yew Sin-Ee Yi last tasted success in 2020 when they won the Thailand Masters after beating China’s Huang Kaixiang-Liu Cheng in the final.
They also reached the final of the Malaysian Masters that year before losing to Indonesia’s world No. 1 Marcus Fernaldi-Kevin Sanjaya.
But Yew Sin-Ee Yi have not reached a final or won a World Tour title since then although they did win a bronze in the World Championships in Huelva, Spain, last year.
The Malaysian pair’s best result this year was in the Indian Open in January where they reached the semi-finals.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi will be looking to do better in the Indonesian Masters from June 7-12 and Indonesian Open from June 14-19 (both in Jakarta).
It will not be easy for them though as they have been handed tough draws in both tournaments.
Yew Sin and Ee Yi should reach the quarter-finals in the Indonesian Masters but will then have to get past either compatriots and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik or SEA Games champions and home pair Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin to make the last four.
If they do win against either pair, they could then meet Marcus-Kevin.
It will be even harder in the Indonesian Open as the Malaysians will most probably lock horns with Japan’s reigning world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi as early as the second round.
One thing that could work in the independent pair’s favour is that Yew Sin has ended his partnership in the mixed doubles with veteran Goh Liu Ying.
This could enable him to fully focus on his matches with Ee Yi and also conserve his energy.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi have also been fairly consistent so far this year as they reached the quarter-finals in the German, Swiss and Korean Opens.
Now, they will be looking to step up a notch and try to end their title drought.
