National men's doubles pair Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri.
PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri have an extra incentive when they compete in the rest of the World Tour competitions this year, starting with the Japan Open on Tuesday in Yokohama.
Hon Jian-Haikal can qualify for the season ending World Tour Finals for the first time if they can stay consistent in their remaining tournaments.
The youngsters are currently in sixth spot in the Race to Hangzhou rankings and need to maintain their position in the top eight to make the cut for the Finals from Dec 11-15 in Hangzhou.
Haikal is keen to qualify for the Finals with Hon Jian but knows that it will be no easy task as they face tough competition from several top pairs.
“Hon Jian and I have discussed this and of course we want to qualify for the Tour Finals,” said Haikal.
“I told him that we need to be consistent in our next tournaments to make the cut. We have to reach the quarter-finals and beyond. It’s not easy as many top pairs will also be vying to qualify and we need to work harder to fight for a spot.”
Hon Jian-Haikal, who were only combined a year ago, have progressed rapidly since and are currently ranked 20th in the world.
The pair’s best achievements this year was capturing the Orleans Masters title in March and reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open in June.
Hon Jian-Haikal have to raise their game after they were handed a tough draw in the Japan tourney.
The pair should beat Germany’s unheralded Bjarne Geiss-Jan Voelker in their opening match but will likely take on China’s world No. 1 and Paris Olympics silver medallists Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang in the second.
“This draw is normal for a World Tour 750 tournament. At this level, there are no easy opponents,” said Haikal.
“We have a chance against the German pair but it will undoubtedly be tougher against Weikeng-Wang Chang.
“I have played against them once in the 2022 Indonesian Masters with my previous partner Wan Arif (Wan Junaidi) and we lost. I hope to do better this time if Hon Jian and I meet them.”
Meanwhile, the other Malaysian men’s doubles pairs in the fray will be Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and independent pairs Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong.
National No. 1 and Paris Games bronze medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have withdrawn from the tournament due to a slight injury to the latter.
