Men's doubles pair Choong Hon Jian (right) and Mohd Haikal Nazri. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Choong Hon Jian will get a rare opportunity to focus solely on the men’s doubles with Mohd Haikal Nazri in the back-to-back Orleans Masters and Swiss Open.
Hon Jian, who usually competes in the mixed doubles as well with Go Pei Kee, will only see action in one event in the European tourneys as the latter has been entered for the China Masters (March 19-24), which clashes with the Swiss tourney.
Pei Kee will play in the women’s doubles along with Low Yeen Yuan in the China tourney.
“Hon Jian will not play in the mixed doubles in Orleans and Swiss Open as we decided to enter Pei Kee-Yeen Yuan for the China Masters instead,” said mixed doubles coach Lutfi Zaim.
“This is just a temporary move as the two tournaments clash. Hon Jian will resume playing with Pei Kee as well in future competitions.”
The 23-year-old Hon Jian has been showing good promise in both events and is currently ranked No. 40 and No. 51 in the world with Haikal and Pei Kee respectively.
Hon Jian had captured the back-to-back Syed Modi International and Indian Masters titles with Haikal at the end of last year.
Although he has not won a title with Pei Kee, the pair did finish runners-up twice last year in the Indonesian International Challenge and National Championships.
Hon Jian is now out to impress in Europe with Haikal after a difficult start to the year.
The pair suffered a second round exit in the Indonesian Masters in January after losing to Denmark’s world No. 36 Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard.
Hon Jian and Haikal were then forced to retire from their opening round match in the Thailand Masters a week later after the latter picked up an ankle injury.
Haikal, though, recovered in time for the Asia Team Championships in Shah Alam last month and was part of the silver-medal winning team with Hon Jian.
Hon Jian-Haikal will open their campaign in the Orleans tourney against fellow Malaysians Jimmy Wong-Lwi Shenghao.
