PETALING JAYA: The draw for the Hylo Open in Germany, which begins next Tuesday, has handed Malaysia’s Wan Arif Wan Junaidi–Yap Roy King a tricky start as they take on compatriots Man Wei Chong–Tee Kai Wun — a pair they have yet to beat.
Both pairs have met six times before, including four encounters this year alone — all of which went in favour of Wei Chong-Kai Wun.
Their most recent clash came at the China Open in July.
A win this time would not only send Arif-Roy King into the second round but also finally end their winless streak against their more established teammates.
For Wei Chong-Kai Wun, another victory would strengthen their bid to qualify for the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou in December.
Malaysia will once again have strong representation in the men’s doubles. Top seeds Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will face Scotland’s Christopher-Matthew Grimley, while second seeds Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will take on another Scottish pair, Alexander Dunn-Adam Pringle.
Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong have a tough task against fifth seeds Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri of Indonesia, while Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin will meet Leo Carnando-Bagas Maulana
In the men’s singles, Leong Jun Hao appears to have a more favourable draw this time around. The world No. 20 will take on India’s Sankar Subramaniam, ranked 62nd, in the opening round.
In the women’s singles, S. Kisona will face Bulgaria’s Kaloyana Nalbantova, while K. Letshanaa will meet Huang Ching-ping of Taiwan.
Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will not feature in the tournament, but Malaysia will still have two women’s doubles pairs in action — Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing, and Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee — both of whom received byes into the second round.
In the mixed doubles, top seeds Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will open their campaign against Taiwan’s Ye Hong-wei-Nicole Chan, while Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien will face Brazil’s Fabricio Farias-Jaqueline Lima.
