Go for it: Coach Herry Iman Pierngadi wants Man Wei Chong -Tee Kai Wun to book Finals ticket early.
PETALING JAYA: National men's doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi wants Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun to seal their spots in the World Tour Finals early.
And in order to that, they have to reach at least the semi-finals at the Japan Masters starting on Nov 12 (Tuesday) in Kumamoto.
A good run in Japan will ensure a place in the Tour Finals from Dec 17-21 in Hangzhou for the first time for Wei Chong-Kai Wun.
And if they confirm their tickets, they don't have to compete at the Australian Open the following week.
The duo currently sit third in the Race to Finals rankings with 84,350 points and are in the driving seat to make the cut for the prestigious season ender.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun need to remain ahead of fellow Malaysians Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who are seventh with 72,770 points, to confirm their berth.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin face a tough task to overtake Wei Chong-Kai Wun as they need to win the title in Japan to keep alive their qualification hopes.
Only two pairs from a country can make it into the Tour Finals if both finish in the top eight in the Race to Finals rankings.
Second placed Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have already booked their spot early, leaving Wei Chong-Kai Wun and Sze Fei-Izzuddin to battle it out for the remaining place.
The Australian Open in Sydney next week is the last tournament offering ranking points towards qualification for the Tour Finals.
Herry though has urged Wei Chong-Kai Wun to confirm their spot early as Kai Wun is still struggling with a calf injury and needs more time to fully recover ahead of the Tour Finals.
"We might withdraw Chong-Kai Wun from the Australian Open if they can seal their spot in the World Tour Finals in Japan," said Herry.
"Kai Wun still needs to play carefully to avoid aggravating his injury. They need to reach the semi-finals at least to be sure of their place in Hangzhou."
World No. 5 Wei Chong-Kai Wun will open their campaign in Japan against world No. 30 Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin have a tricky task against South Korea's Kang Min-hyuk-Ki Dong-ju in their opening match.
Meanwhile, the other Malaysians in the fray in the men's doubles are Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Chia Weijie-Lwi Shenghao.
