Eight years is a long time to wait in men’s doubles, and Malaysia is down to its final two chances to end it. Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Chia Weijie-Teo Ee Yi both booked quarter-final spots at the Korean Open in Yeosu, putting two Malaysian pairs one victory away from the semifinals for the first time since 2018, The Star reported.
The drought is the story’s frame: no Malaysian men’s doubles pair has reached the last four at this tournament since Low Juan Shen and Chooi Kah Ming did so in 2018, when they lost to Japan’s Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in the four editions since its return, Malaysia has not produced another semifinalist in the discipline.
Third seeds survive a 24-22 scare in Yeosu
Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, the third seeds, kept their campaign alive with a 24-22, 21-12 win over Taiwan’s Chen Zhi-ray and Lin Yu-chieh in the second round at Jinnam Stadium. The opening game went the Taiwanese pair’s way at 22-24, a reminder of how fine the margins are at this stage, before the Malaysians closed out the second game 21-12.
A tricky test awaits them against Japan’s Haruki Kawabe and Kenta Matsukawa, ranked 57th in the world. The two pairs have never met as partners, but Wei Chong knows the Japanese duo from earlier this year, when he partnered Soh Wooi Yik against them twice. Both matches went to three games, with each side claiming one victory. Wei Chong can take confidence from the most recent meeting at the Korean Masters in August, which he and Soh Wooi Yik won.
Weijie-Ee Yi roll through in 28 minutes
Chia Weijie and Teo Ee Yi produced the more comfortable passage, beating Taiwan’s world No. 38 He Zhi-wei and Huang Jui-hsuan 21-9, 21-19 in just 28 minutes to reach the last eight. Their reward is a far sterner assignment: Japan’s former world champions Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi in the quarter-finals.
A semifinal berth would be a much-needed boost for Weijie-Ee Yi, coming off a disappointing European campaign last month. For both pairs, the math is identical and simple: one win ends an eight-year wait.
Two different tests, same prize
The contrast between the two Malaysian routes is what makes this week compelling. Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun are established seeds who needed a comeback to get through, while Weijie-Ee Yi are the unexpected run riding a 28-minute demolition job. One faces a familiar Japanese opponent with a split head-to-head record; the other faces former world champions with far heavier pedigree.
Between them, they give Malaysia two live shots at history. If either wins, the 2018 drought ends in Yeosu.
Questions readers are asking
When did Malaysia last have a men’s doubles semifinalist at the Korean Open? In 2018, when Low Juan Shen and Chooi Kah Ming reached the last four and lost to Japan’s Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe.
Why did the drought run so long? The tournament was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in the four editions since its return no Malaysian pair has made the semifinals.
Who do the Malaysian pairs face in the quarter-finals? Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun play Japan’s Haruki Kawabe-Kenta Matsukawa, while Chia Weijie-Teo Ee Yi face Japan’s former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi.
What did each pair do to reach the last eight? Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun beat Taiwan’s Chen Zhi-ray-Lin Yu-chieh 24-22, 21-12; Weijie-Ee Yi beat Taiwan’s He Zhi-wei-Huang Jui-hsuan 21-9, 21-19 in 28 minutes.
The quarter-finals decide it
Both Malaysian pairs play their quarter-final matches at Jinnam Stadium in Yeosu, with a semifinal place — and the end of an eight-year wait — riding on the result.
Related reading
