PETALING JAYA: National men’s doubles shuttler Tee Kai Wun is glad to have his partner Man Wei Chong back from injury in time for the Asian Championships in Dubai from April 25-30.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun were forced to pull put of the German Open, All-England and Swiss Open last month after the former suffered an ankle injury.
Wei Chong, though, has managed to recover ahead of the Asian meet, which is a Super 1000 tournament.
“Wei Chong is slowly regaining his fitness and rhythm on court during training,” said Kai Wun.
“We don’t have high hopes for the Asian meet as he is just returning from injury but we will give everything to at least reach the quarter-finals.”
Kai Wun is hoping for better fortunes after going through a rough patch with Wei Chong.
The pair had shown lots of promise by capturing the Taiwan Open title last July but have not been able to maintain their performances.
World No. 28 Wei Chong-Kai Wun have not gone past the early rounds in any individual tournaments since their stunning win.
It will not get any easier for them as they will likely come up against Japan’s 2021 world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi in the second round of the Asian meet.
In the first round, Wei Chong-Kai Wun will play Thailand’s world No. 37 Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn-Nanthakarn Yordphaisong.
A positive result in Dubai will give Wei Chong-Kai Wun a boost ahead of the start of the one-year qualifying period for the 2024 Paris Olympics next month.
The duo still have a fighting chance to claim a spot in the Olympics.
Meanwhile, the other Malaysian pairs in the fray in the Asian meet will be world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, and independent duo Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (No. 8) and Tan Kian Meng-Tan Wee Kiong (No. 43).
Aaron-Wooi Yik have a tough opener against Indonesia’s world No. 11 Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin while Yew Sin-Ee Yi have an easier first-round match against India’s world No. 27 M.R. Arjun-Dhruv Kapila.
Kian Meng-Wee Kiong face an uphill battle against another Indian pair, world No. 6 and Swiss Open winners Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty.
