PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi have a good opportunity to go far in the Spain Masters in the absence of the world’s top pairs.
The youngsters, who showed promise after they were combined last year, are still trying to find their feet in World Tour competitions.
Roy King and Arif captured the national title and the Nantes International Challenge in France last year but injuries to the latter have restricted the pair’s progress this year.
They only started competing in the Swiss Open last week where they lost out to teammates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the second round.
Roy King-Arif, who are ranked No. 65 in the world, finally have a chance to stamp their mark in the Spain tournament following the withdrawal of the top two seeds – Malaysia’s independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and Swiss Open winners Ben Lane-Sean Vendy of England.
Roy King-Arif got off to a good start when they beat Taiwan’s Lu Ming-che-Tang Kai-wei 21-18, 21-9 in the first round in Madrid on Tuesday.
It was the former’s second win over the latter in five meetings in international tournaments.
Roy King-Arif did well to turn the tables on Ming-che-Kai-wei after losing to them in their last two encounters in the 2023 Taiwan and Korean Masters.
Roy King-Arif will next play another Taiwanese pair Lu Chen-Po Li-wei for a place in the last eight.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian pair Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong’s campaign came to a premature end when they went down 16-21, 19-21 to Denmark’s William Boe-Christian Kjaer.
Malaysians only
Men’s doubles: Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi bt Lu Ming-che-Tang Kai-wei (Tpe) 21-18, 21-9; William Boe-Christian Kjaer (Den) bt Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong 21-16, 21-19.
