Tough challenge: Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub will play China’s world No. 36 Xie Haonan-Zeng Weihan in the second round.
PETALING JAYA: Veteran men’s doubles shuttlers Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub are showing no signs of slowing down.
After enjoying an impressive 2024, Wee Kiong, 35, and Azriyn, 31, continued their good form when they pulled off a surprise win over homesters Leo Rolly-Bagas Maulana 21-16, 21-17 in the Indonesian Masters first round at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Leo came in with a strong reputation as the defending champion with former partner Daniel Marthin but Malaysia’s independent pair played superbly to silence the home fans and claim the victory in just 36 minutes.
The win was another feather in the cap for world No. 29 Wee Kiong-Azriyn, who continue to defy their age and perform well at the highest level.
The duo reached the semi-finals of the World Tour Super 500 Japan Masters and Super 300 Macau Open last year, stunning several strong pairs on the way including world No. 2 teammates Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Taiwan’s two-time Olympic champion Wang Chi-lin and his new partner Chiu Hsiang-chieh and Daniel-Shohibul Fikri.
Wee Kiong, who famously captured silver in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics with former partner Goh V Shem, was happy with his progress with Azriyn.
“I think our strong mentality and attitude is the key to our progress,” said Wee Kiong.
“In the match against the Indonesians, we didn’t think too much. Our focus was only on the quality of our shots and returning the shuttle in every rally.”
Wee Kiong-Azriyn are determined to continue their run in the tournament when they face China’s world No. 36 Xie Haonan-Zeng Weihan next.
Haonan-Weihan though will be no pushovers after upstaging world No. 10 homesters Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza 15-21, 21-15, 21-16 in another opening match.
Meanwhile, there was mixed fortunes for Malaysia in the women’s doubles when national No. 1 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah reached the second round but Lai Pei Jing-Lim Chiew Sien crashed out.
World No. 7 Pearly-Thinaah defeated Taiwan’s Hsu Ya-ching-Sung Yu-hsuan 21-16, 21-19 and will play the latter’s teammates Hu Ling-fang-Jheng Yu-chieh next for a place in the last eight.
Pei Jing-Chiew Sien could not join Pearly-Thinaah after going down 21-23, 21-15, 18-21 to Poland’s Paulina Hankiewicz-Kornelia Marczak.
