PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Yap Roy King’s momentum was curtailed by a three-month injury absence from tournaments but he has already settled into a nice rhythm with men’s doubles partner Wan Arif Wan Junaidi in the last two tournaments.
On Friday, Arif-Roy King turned on the power to reach the semi-finals of the Spain Masters in Madrid. The duo had to be on their toes throughout the quarter-finals clash against India’s M.R. Arjun-Dhruv Kapila before securing a close 21-19, 21-23, 21-17 win in 62 minutes.
Last week, they had lost in the second round of the Swiss Open, which was the first tournament since Roy King’s injury.
Roy King suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee which had damaged the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) after competing at the Syed Modi International in India in December.
National doubles coach Tan Bin Shen said that Arif-Roy King were progressing steadily although it was only their second tournament since making a comeback.
“It’s only their second tournament since taking a break due to Roy King’s injury. But so far, they have been performing well,” said Bin Shen.
“They are showing improvements and I hope they can continue with this progress and keep doing their best until they can win a title again.”
Nantes International Challenge title in France in March last year was Arif-Roy King only title so far.
Arif-Roy King will play Christo Popov-Thoma Junior Popov of France next.
Roy King had also refused to back off from playing two events as he also partners Valeree Siow in the mixed doubles.
However, it was not smooth-sailing for Roy King-Valeree in the Swiss Open and Spanish Masters as they lost in the first round at both tournaments.
Meanwhile, Leong Jun Hao’s gallant run in the men’s singles also came to an end in the last eight on Friday.
Jun Hao was looking forward to upstaging Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan but the experienced veteran secured a comprehensive 21-16, 21-12 win in 33 minutes.
It was Jun Hao’s first quarter-final appearance after playing five tournaments this year.
RESULTS
Quarter-finals
Men’s singles: Chou Tien-chen (Tpe) bt Leong Jun Hao 21-16, 21-12.
Men’s doubles: Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King bt M.R. Arjun-Dhruv Kapila (Ind) 21-19, 21-23, 21-17.
