PETALING JAYA: It was their first final as a pair but men’s doubles pair Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri (pic) were frustrated after leaving it too late to find their rhythm at the Indonesian Masters in Surabaya yesterday.
Haikal-Hon Jian, playing in their sixth tournament together, lost 16-21, 18-21 to Kenya Mitsuhashi-Hiroki Okamura of Japan in 43 minutes.
Haikal, who is with his third partner this year, said they could only play their normal game towards the end.
“I’m not too disappointed. We can actually play better than this but I think we were short on confidence. We could only manage to find our true form towards the end of the game but it was too late by then,” said Haikal.
“We hope that reaching our first final in a Super 100 event will give us a boost and we are hoping to do well in our next event which will be the KL Masters at home.
“This defeat also exposed the weaknesses that we need to rectify. It may not be our day but I believe we can win the upcoming tournament using this as a stepping stone.”
Haikal broke up with long time partner Wan Arif Wan Junaidi early this year to combine with Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
However, it did not last as Izzuddin and Goh Sze Fei decided to resume their partnership in June where Haikal was paired off with Hon Jian.
It was also a break for Hon Jian who had a short-term partnership with Sze Fei.
National doubles coach Tan Bin Shen said Haikal-Hon Jian should not miss their chances as they were not a junior pair.
“It was a good chance for them to win but they missed it. They have actually been in the national team for several years and they must start making their breakthroughs,” said Bin Shen.
“They have reached their first final and must now target to win an international challenge or a Super 100 title fast and look forward to winning at the higher levels.
“The men’s doubles scene is very competitive and it does not help if they remain stagnant for long.”
Hon Jian-Haikal will try to complete the unfinished business at the KL Masters which begins in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow where Indonesians Sabar Karyaman-Moh Reza Pahlevi are the top seeds in the men’s doubles.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Takuma Obayashi (Jpn) bt Choi Ji-hoon (Kor) 21-8, 21-19.
Men’s doubles: Kenya Mitsuhashi-Hiroki Okamura (Jpn) bt Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri (Mas) 21-16, 21-18.
Women’s singles: Tomoka Miyazaki (Jpn) bt Pornpicha Choeikeewong (Tha) 21-9, 21-15.
Women’s doubles: Lanny Tria-Ribka Sugiarto (Ina) bt Meilysa Trias-Rachel Rose (Ina) 21-12, 21-16.
Mixed doubles: Jafar Hidayatullah-Aisyah Salsabila (Ina) bt Ruttanapak Oupthong-Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat (Tha) 21-17, 21-19.
