Rising up: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun have shown great improvement when they captured the Indonesian Masters in January.
PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun’s recent good form will be tested severely in the Orleans Masters when they face high flying South Koreans Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho in the first round.
Seung-jae-Won-ho have been on top form since combining in the beginning of this year and captured their second title in the German Open in Mulheim on Sunday.
The pair also won the Malaysian Open crown in January and finished runners-up to world No. 2 independent duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the Indian Open.
It is all set to be an intriguing clash in the Orleans tourney which starts today in France with Wei Chong-Kai Wun having shown great improvement when they captured the Indonesian Masters in January.
Men’s doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi acknowledged that his charges have a tough task to halt Seung-jae-Won-ho’s hot run.
“The Koreans are one of the best pairs in the world at the moment based on form. Their progress has been extraordinary,” said Herry.
“Wei Chong-Kai Wun though have a chance to beat them but it won’t be easy. For me, it will be a 50-50 match.”
Wei Chong-Kai Wun can take inspiration from Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s win over Seung-jae-Won-ho in the final in New Delhi.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun also have beaten Seung-jae and his previous partner Kang Min-hyuk twice in the Indonesian Open and China Opens last year.
If the pair manage to topple Seung-jae and Won-ho, they will play either compatriots Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub or Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul in the second round.
The other pairs in the fray are Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong and Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing.
Malaysia will also be represented by Lee ZIi Jia, Justin Hoh, Cheam June Wei (men’s singles); K. Letshanaa (women’s singles); Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee (women’s doubles); Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin and Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien (mixed doubles).
