Huge opportunity: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun are happy to get the chance to train with Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani for the Sudirman Cup.
PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles pair, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, are heading into the Sudirman Cup in Xiamen on April 27 with high spirits especially after being selected for the Road to Gold (RTG) programme for the first time.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun are among 13 shuttlers chosen for this elite programme, which is focused on securing Malaysia’s first-ever gold medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The pair earned their place in the elite programme after meeting the selection criteria set by the RTG committee.
Currently ranked No. 7 in the world, they have delivered impressive performances on the international stage, finishing as runners-up at the Indonesian Open last year before going one step further to win the title at the Indonesia Masters earlier this year.
Although the Olympics are still several years away, their immediate focus is on helping Malaysia succeed in the Sudirman Cup. The national team will face tough opponents in Group C, including Japan, Australia, and France.
For Wei Chong, the next two weeks at the centralised training camp will be crucial for improving their skills.
They are determined to make the most of this opportunity to train alongside top national players such as Asian champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and the world’s No. 2 pair, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who have also been invited to join the training sessions.
“I’m happy to have the chance to train with professional players like Sze Fei and Izzuddin, and I hope to learn as much as I can from them,” said Wei Chong.
“There’s definitely a difference when training with top players, but it’s incredibly beneficial.
“Their standard (Aaron-Wooi Yik) is on a different level, so there’s so much we can learn from them, not just in terms of performance, but also attitude on court, discipline, mental toughness, and much more.”
The last time the pair were named in the Sudirman Cup squad was during the 2021 edition in Vantaa, Finland, where Malaysia brought home the bronze medal after falling to Japan in the semi-finals.
Determined to prove their worth, Wei Chong and Kai Wun are not content with simply making up the numbers in the squad.
Aware that they will be competing with two seasoned pairs with strong reputations, they are eager to impress the coaching team and earn a spot in the line-up for the matches in Xiamen.
“Right now, I admit we’re still not at our best, especially after our performance at the recent Asian Championships didn’t go as planned. It has affected our confidence a little,” said Wei Chong.
“As for the possibility of facing scratch pairs, it all depends on the coaches’ decisions on match day.”
