PETALING JAYA: Wan Arif Junaidi is ready to put a disappointing run of results behind him as he reunites with Yap Roy King for the World Championships in New Delhi.
Arif had partnered youngster Kang Khai Xing in his last three tournaments at the China Open, Taiwan Open and Korean Masters, but the scratch combination suffered first round exits in all three.
The Terengganu-born shuttler, however, insists those results will have no bearing on his campaign with Roy King as they prepare to take on Vietnam’s Nguyen Dinh Hoang-Tran Dinh Man in the opening round today.
“It doesn’t affect me because Khai Xing is still young. We each had our own responsibilities. For me, I had to guide him and take the lead,” said Arif.
Arif-Roy King enjoyed a decent run at last year’s World Championships in Paris, reaching the third round before losing to senior teammates Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
Repeating or improving on that result could prove challenging this time, with Arif admitting that he and Roy King have had only a few days to train together since returning from the Korean Masters last Monday.
“I’m not thinking too much about it. I’ll just treat it like any other tournament I’ve played in. If we have the chance to go far, then hopefully we can.
“Looking at the draw, I think it’s quite challenging and we could meet Indonesian pairs, Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin in the second round. We’ll just try to give our best,” he added.
Besides Arif-Roy King, men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao will also be in action today against Brazil’s Jonathan Matias, while K. Letshanaa will take on Uganda’s Fadilah Rafi in the women’s singles.
Women’s doubles pair Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting will face Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova-Yevheniia Kantemyr.
