PETALING JAYA: The Japan Open draw was released yesterday, and it is not kind to our men's doubles shuttlers, to say the least.
Men's doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi have been pitted against each other in the first round while Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun are drawn against world No. 23 Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi.
In the draw released yesterday, only one of the Malaysian pairs can progress to the second round of the World Super 750 tourney which will start next Tuesday in Tokyo.
World No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik will start as the favourites based on their fine form and head-to-head record over independent duo Yew Sin-Ee Yi, who are currently ranked No. 30 in the world.
The former have beaten the latter six times in their past eight meetings.
The other Malaysians in the men's doubles competing in the tourney are world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and world No. 26 Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who are also the defending champions, should have no problems getting past Canada's world No. 66 Kevin Lee-Ty Alexander in the first round while Wee Kiong-Azriyn have a trickier opening task against world No. 18 French brothers Toma Junior Popov-Christo Popov.
