Back in the reckoning: South Korea’s Seo Seung-jae (right) and Kim Won-ho, world doubles champion in 2023, are pairing up for the All-England in March.
PETALING JAYA: South Korea’s men’s doubles star Seo Seung-jae will be reunited with Kim Won-ho in the upcoming European tournaments including the prestigious All-England from March 11-16 in Birmingham.
2023 world champion Seung-jae captured the World Tour Super 1000 Malaysian Open title with Won-ho and finished runners-up with the latter in the Super 750 Indian Open to national pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani last month.
The Korean Badminton Association (KBA) though have been experimenting with different combinations and Seung-jae was then paired up with Jin Yong in the Super 500 Indonesian Masters and Super 300 Thailand Masters.
The 27-year-old suffered a first-round exit in Indonesia but went on to win the title in Thailand with Jin Yong.
It was Seung-jae-Jin Yong’s second crown together after the duo claimed the China Masters last November.
Seung-jae though will switch partners and combine with Won-ho again in the back-to-back German Open (Feb 25-March 2), Orleans Masters (March 4-9) and All-England based on the name list released.
The pair, who are currently ranked No. 82 in the world, will be out to continue their fine form after impressing in Malaysia and India.
Meanwhile, Kang Min-hyuk, who won the world title with Seung-jae, has been registered with Ki Dong-ju in Orleans and All-England.
Min-hyuk combined with Jin Yong in Malaysia and India and played with Won-ho in Indonesia and Thailand.
The 25-year-old has not been as successful as Seung-jae, losing in the second round in Malaysia and went down in the quarter-finals in the other three events.
Surprisingly, the talented Jin Yong has not been chosen in any of the European tourneys.
