PETALING JAYA: National doubles shuttlers Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun put up a strong fight to survive the first round of the French Open at the Arena Grand Paris on Wednesday (Oct 21).
Wei Chong-Kai Wun, who lost in the first round of the Denmark Open after reuniting last week, showed greater resilience this time as they defeated Kakeru Kumagai-Hiroki Nishi of Japan 18-21, 21-15, 21-17.
They will next face former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun will be joined in the second round by Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who were brilliant in dismantling China's He Jiting-Ren Xiangyu 21-15, 21-19.
The reigning Denmark Open runners-up will next face Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul of Thailand, who dumped Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong 19-21, 21-10, 21-19.
If both Aaron-Wooi Yik and Wei Chong-Kai Wun win their second round matches, they will face off in the quarter-finals, assuring Malaysia of a place in the men's doubles semi-finals.
Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani can also make it an all-Malaysian quarter-final line-up if they beat their respective opponents - Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae of South Korea and Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard of Denmark.
Another Malaysian pair, Chia Weijie-Teo Ee Yi, went down 16-21, 15-21 to Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi of China in the opening round.
Denmark Open champions Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah also kept their hopes alive in the French Open but will face teammates Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee for a place in the quarter-finals.
Pearly-Thinaah ousted Bengisu Ercetin-Nazlican Inci of Turkiye 21-11, 21-15, while Carmen-Xin Yee pulled off a superb 21-11, 21-12 win against Margot Lambert-Camille Pognante of France to make it an all-Malaysian affair in the second round.
