PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Yap Roy King has an extra spring in his step after finally getting the better of seniors Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani to march into the Japan Masters quarter-finals with Aaron Tai.
The 25-year-old Roy King had lost all four previous meetings against the former world No. 1 pair while partnering Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, but turned the tables on his seniors in the second round at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium yesterday.
This time, with youngster Aaron by his side, Roy King needed just 28 minutes to blow away Sze Fei-Izzuddin 21-14, 21-15 in style.
The world No. 57 Roy King-Aaron will now carry Malaysia’s hopes as the last remaining representatives when they take on world No. 15 Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan of Taiwan for a place in the semi-finals.
National men’s doubles coach Chang Kim Wai credited Aaron-Roy King’s tactical approach for making life difficult for Sze Fei-Izzuddin and ultimately securing the victory.
“Aaron-Roy King managed to disrupt Sze Fei-Izzuddin’s game in the first game,” said Kim Wai.
“When Sze Fei-Izzuddin changed their approach in the second, Aaron-Roy King were able to adapt to their game.”
The duo have a chance to get past Jhe-huei-Po-hsuan having both enjoyed success against the Taiwanese pair with their previous partners, but Kim Wai wants them to be on their toes.
“It will be a challenge for them as they are the only Malaysian pair left in the tournament,” said Kim Wai.
Aaron had beaten Jhe-huei-Po-hsuan alongside his former partner Kang Khai Xing in the second round of the Japan Open in July.
Two weeks later, he repeated the feat with senior player Aaron Chia when they defeated the same pair in the quarter-finals of the Taiwan Open.
Roy King also has an impressive record against Jhe-huei-Po-hsuan, having beaten them three times while partnering Arif, with their last victory coming at the Orleans Masters in 2025.
Despite their previous success, today’s quarter-final will be the first meeting between the two pairs in their current combinations.
Meanwhile, compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who were seeded eighth, failed to join Aaron-Roy King in the quarter-finals after going down 15-21, 18-21 to Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard.
Malaysia’s challenge in the mixed doubles also came to an end after Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing lost 12-21, 19-21 to China’s top seeds Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin.
