Haikal lifts spirits of Sze Fei-Izzuddin after spoiling party ahead of pro plunge

Bright path: Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri will play South Korea’s Choi Sol-gyu-Heo Kwang-hee in the second round.

PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles pair Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri still consider men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani as their ‘’Malaysian teammates’’ although they will leave the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to become an independent pair on Sept 1.

World No. 19 Hon Jian-Haikal defeated Sze Fei-Izzuddin 13-21, 21-16, 21-16 in 55 minutes in the Korean Open yesterday to reach the second round.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who won their first super 750 Japan Open in Yokohama on Sunday, ended their last tournament under the BAM umbrella after their opening round loss to Hon Jian-Haikal.

However, Haikal lifted the spirits of Sze Fei-Izzuddin that they will always remain as teammates no matter where they decide to go.

“We wish Sze Fei-Izzuddin all the best. No matter whether we are with BAM or as an independent pair, we still carry the Malaysian flag,” said Haikal.

The opening round victory has also given Hong Jian-Haikal a chance to earn a place in the World Tour Finals as they are the highest ranked Malaysian pair at No. 5 in the tour rankings ahead of Sze Fei-Izzuddin (No. 7) and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (No. 9).

A country is allowed a maximum of two pairs in the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou from Dec 11-15, provided they finish in the top eight at the end of qualifying.

The super 750 China Masters (Nov 19-24) will be the last event for the pairs to earn their place in the World Tour Finals.

“Our ranking is good and we are targeting to qualify for the World Tour Finals,” added Haikal.

“We lost to Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto (of Indonesia) in the second round last week but we hope to do better here and gain more world tour points.”

Hon Jian-Haikal’s chances of reaching the last eight look open as they will play new pairing Choi Sol-gyu-Heo Kwang-hee of South Korea and that result would further strengthen their position in the race to the World Tour.

Independent pairs Boon Yin Xuan-Goh V Shem and Nur Azryn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong also reached the second round.

Yin Xuan-V Shem have a difficult second round clash against world champions Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae of South Korea while Azryn-Wee Kiong will take on Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana next.

In the mixed doubles, Paris Olympics quarter-finalists Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei advanced to the quarter-finals.

World No. 9 Tang Jie-Ee Wei overcame Taiwan’s Lin Bing-wei-Lin Chih-chun 21-17, 21-10 to advance to the second round where they will meet another Taiwan pair Liu Kuang-heng-Jheng Yu-chieh today.

World No. 12 Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, who reached the last eight at the Japan Open, defeated Americans Presley Smith-Allison Lee 21-14, 21-11 to set up a second round meeting against Taiwan pair Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang today.

Another independent pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie were also through to the second round after beating BAM pair Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee 21-12, 15-21, 21-12. They will meet Taiwan’s Chen Zhi Ray-Yang Ching-tun next.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS

Malaysians unless stated

Men’s singles: Takuma Obayashi (Jpn) bt Leong Jun Hao 22-20, 21-14.

Men’s doubles: Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri bt Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani 13-21, 21-16, 21-16.

Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Lin Bing-wei-Lin Chih-chun (Tpe) 21-17, 21-10; Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing bt Presley Smith-Allison Lee (US) 21-14, 21-11; Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie bt Choong Hon Jian-Go Pei Kee 21-12, 15-21, 21-12; Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien bt Chiu Hsiang-chieh-Lin Jhih-yun (Tpe) 21-11, 21-16; Liu Kuang-heng-Jheng yu-chieh bt Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin 21-18, 17-21, 21-14.