Cause for celebration: Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (left) rejoice after winning the Arctic Open on Oct 13. — AP
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia are assured of at least four doubles pairs in the prestigious World Tour Finals from Dec 11-15 in Hangzhou.
Based on the latest Race to Hangzhou rankings, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (men’s doubles), Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles), Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles) are all assured of qualifying for the Finals.
Only pairs that remain in the top eight at the end of all the World Tour events next month will make the cut.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who have been in great form of late and captured the China, Japan and Arctic Open titles over the last two months, are in third position and look set to make their debut in the Tour Finals.
Pearly-Thinaah also look comfortable in fifth spot and will qualify for the Finals for the second time after first making the cut in 2022.
The duo have also been performing consistently well and won the Hong Kong Open title and finished runners-up in the Korean and Arctic Opens.
Soon Huat-Shevon and Tang Jie-Ee Wei both dropped one rung to No. 3 and 4 respectively but will still make the cut.
The former won the Malaysian Masters and Swiss Open titles earlier in the year before finishing runners-up in the China tourney.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei captured the Korean Open crown and came second best in the Swiss tourney and the Thailand Masters.
Meanwhile, Malaysia also have a good opportunity to have another two representatives in the Finals in the men’s singles through Lee Zii Jia and men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun.
Zii Jia is in fifth spot and needs to perform well in the back-to-back Japan Masters (Nov 12-17) and China Masters (Nov 19-24) to maintain his position in the top eight as not much separates the men’s singles players.
The independent player was forced to miss the Denmark Open due to an ankle injury but will be hoping to recover in time for the Japan tourney.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun are in seventh place and also need to remain consistent in Japan and China to make the cut for the first time.
