PETALING JAYA: There was no room for sentiment as Tee Kai Wun put his former partnership with Man Wei Chong aside to claim the Korean Masters title with new partner Yap Roy King yesterday.
The Malaysian pair delivered their breakthrough title in only their third tournament together, beating Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik 21-13, 21-18 in the final in Asan.
Kai Wun and Wei Chong had enjoyed a successful partnership from 2021 until their split before last month’s China Open, but there was no lingering emotion when they met on opposite sides of the net.
“We had been partners for about five years, but this was the final. We didn’t think about our previous partnership,” said Kai Wun.
The victory was a remarkable turnaround for Kai Wun-Roy King, who had suffered first-round exits at both the China Open and Taiwan Open before finding their rhythm in Asan.
They reached the final without taking to court in the semi-finals after their Japanese opponents withdrew, giving them a slight energy advantage over Wei Chong-Wooi Yik, who had battled through a gruelling three-game semi-final.
Roy King, who previously partnered Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, credited Kai Wun’s experience and composure for helping them through the final.
“We didn’t expect to make the final. I told my partner to just enjoy the game and try to find the rhythm,” he said.
“He is more experienced than me and always leads me back and stays calm. Whenever I felt lost, he was there to pull me back.”
Wei Chong-Wooi Yik had booked their maiden final appearance in their fourth competition together after defeating Japan’s Haruki Kawabe-Kenta Matsukawa in a three-game clash that lasted almost an hour in the semis.
Meanwhile, China’s Zhu Xuanchen and India’s Ashmita Chaliha won their first Tour titles in the men’s and women’s singles events, respectively.
Xuanchen defeated South Korea’s Yoo Tae-bin 21-16, 23-21, while Ashmita stunned fourth seed Han Qianxi of China to win 14-21, 21-14, 21-14.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Zhu Xuanchen (Chn) bt Yoo Tae-bin (Kor) 21-16, 23-21.
Men’s doubles: Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King (Mas) bt Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas) 21-13, 21-18.
Women’s singles: Ashmita Chaliha (Ind) bt Han Qianxi (Chn) 14-21, 21-14, 21-14.
Women’s doubles: Luo Yi-Wang Tingge (Chn) bt Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard (Tha) 17-21, 21-19, 21-14.
Mixed doubles: Yuta Watanabe-Maya Taguchi (Jpn) bt Kim Jaehyeon-Jang Ha-jeong (Kor) 21-19, 21-14.
