Target locked: Malaysia men’s doubles shuttlers Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King will be hoping to clear their Japan Open opening round. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
PETALING JAYA: If Malaysia’s young men’s doubles pairs want to avoid knocking each other out early in tournaments, there is only one way forward – climb up the rankings.
That’s the clear advice from national coaching director Rexy Mainaky to Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian, who have repeatedly found themselves drawn against fellow Malaysians in the opening rounds.
Most recently, world No. 23 Roy King-Arif were drawn against world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the opening round of the Japan Open starting on Tuesday in Tokyo.
It’s not an isolated case as this marks the fifth time this year that Roy King-Arif have been pitted against teammates in early rounds after the Opens in India, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.
World No. 47 Haikal-Hon Jian, who only returned to competitions this year in May after the former’s hip injury, also had to take on Wei Chong-Kai Wun in the Thailand Open first round.
Men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi had expressed his frustrations after seeing Roy King-Arif and Wei Chong-Kai Wun clash early again in the Japan tourney after meeting in the second round in their last tournament before this in Indonesia.
Rexy said the only way out was for the younger pair to improve their rankings.
“It’s definitely a loss for us if two of our pairs are drawn against each other in the first or second round in tournaments as only one pair can progress further,” said Rexy.
“Now, we can see more all-Malaysian clashes early in the men’s doubles as more pairs can qualify for top tournaments.
“I have discussed this with Herry as well. Roy King-Arif and Haikal-Hon Jian have no choice but to improve their rankings to avoid facing teammates.”
Rexy pointed out that there was a similar scenario in the mixed doubles last year when upcoming pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin were drawn against national No. 1 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei in the early rounds in tournaments.
Pang Ron-Su Yin though managed to move up to No. 13 in the world and were no longer pitted against Tang Jie-Ee Wei.
“We have experienced this in the mixed doubles too. Pang Ron-Su Yin initially had to play against Tang Jie-Ee Wei in a few tournaments,” said Rexy.
“Once they moved up the rankings, they were not drawn anymore against the latter.
“So, I want Roy King-Arif and Haikal-Hon Jian to try to break into the top 15 too.
“They need to take their opportunities and do better especially in World Tour Super 300 and 500 competitions and collect more ranking points.”
But the good news is that when there is an all-Malaysian clash, one is assured to advance. And in the case of Roy King-Arif and Wei Chong-Kai Wun, the winners will play against Thailand’s Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh or China’s Huang Di-Liu Yang in the second round.
