Bold Wei Chong makes no secret of his intention [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: Home comfort comes with expectation, and Malaysia's men's doubles player Man Wei Chong is not shying away from it as he sets his sights on a podium finish at the Malaysia Open from Jan 6-11.

Fresh from a demanding World Tour Finals campaign in Hangzhou, where the pair did not progress beyond the group stage, Wei Chong admitted he is still working his way back to peak condition after returning from China barely a week ago.

However, playing on home soil has sharpened their focus heading into the season-opening World Tour event.

"It's definitely our target because we're playing in Malaysia," said Wei Chong, who forms the world No. 5 pairing with Tee Kai Wun.

"Earlier this year we reached the semi-finals, so hopefully here we can get a medal."

While results in 2025 have shown clear progress, the pair themselves have resisted any sense of complacency.

Wei Chong described the season as encouraging but incomplete, pointing to early-round exits and losses to lower-ranked opponents as reminders that consistency remains a work in progress.

That self-assessment comes despite tangible success this year, with the duo capturing two major titles on the World Tour.

They lifted the Indonesia Masters (Super 500) crown before adding another significant triumph at the Malaysia Masters (Super 500), results that have reinforced belief within the partnership while also raising expectations.

For Wei Chong, however, trophies alone do not define progress.

He stressed that weekly performance remains the priority, particularly at an event like the Malaysia Open where fine margins can quickly dictate outcomes.

"If the performance that week is good, the results will come," he added.