PETALING JAYA: Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik have a golden opportunity to make a deep run at the Korean Masters while continuing to build their partnership with many of the tournament’s top pairs absent.
The tournament in Asan marks their fourth outing together since they were paired in June, but the duo are still searching for their best form.
They opened their campaign by battling back from a game down to beat Japan’s newly-formed pair Hiroki Midorikawa-Yuto Nakashizu 12-21, 21-17, 21-11 in the opening round.
Wei Chong-Wooi Yik will now fancy their chances of reaching the quarter-finals when they take on Singapore’s world No. 676 pair Nge Joo Jie-Willard Wee.
But they cannot afford to underestimate their opponents, who pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the opening round by knocking out seventh seeds Oliver Butler-Samuel Jones of England 21-19, 14-21, 21-19 yesterday.
Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King also progressed after seeing off another Singaporean pair, Terry Hee-Wesley Koh.
They will next face South Korea’s world No. 110 pair Jin Yong-Lee Jong-min for a place in the last eight.
It was, however, the end of the road for Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Kang Khai Xing, who are still searching for their first win together after losing 16-21, 21-13, 20-22 to fellow Malaysians Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong.
Hang Yee-Eng Cheong will next take on third seeds He Zhi-wei-Huang Jui-hsuan. Taiwan Open runners-up Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai will begin their campaign today against India’s Bhargav Ram Arigela-Viswa Tej Gobburu.
