PETALING JAYA: It has been eight years since a Malaysian men’s doubles pair last reached the semi-finals of the Korean Open, but that long wait could finally come to an end this week.
Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Chia Weijie-Teo Ee Yi are both just one win away from ending the drought after booking their places in the quarter-finals in Yeosu yesterday.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun, the third seeds, kept their campaign on track with a 24-22, 21-12 victory over Taiwan’s Chen Zhi-ray-Lin Yu-chieh in the second round at the Jinnam Stadium.
But a tricky test awaits them today against Japan’s world No. 57 Haruki Kawabe-Kenta Matsukawa.
Although the two pairs have never met, Wei Chong is familiar with the Japanese duo, having faced them twice this year while partnering Soh Wooi Yik.
Both matches went to three games, with each side claiming one victory.
Wei Chong can at least take confidence from their last encounter at the Korean Masters in August, when he and Wooi Yik came out on top.
Weijie-Ee Yi, meanwhile, have a chance to extend their unexpected run at the Korean Open, but face a tough task against Japan’s former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi in the quarter-finals.
A place in the semi-finals would be a much-needed boost for the Malaysian pair after a disappointing European campaign last month.
Weijie-Ee Yi booked their place in the last eight after comfortably beating Taiwan’s world No. 38 He Zhi-wei-Huang Jui-hsuan 21-9, 21-19 in just 28 minutes in the second round yesterday.
The last Malaysian men’s doubles pair to reach the Korean Open semi-finals were Low Juan Shen-Chooi Kah Ming in 2018, when they lost to Japan’s Hiroyuki Endo-Yuta Watanabe.
The tournament was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Malaysia have yet to produce another men’s doubles semi-finalist in the four editions since its return.
