Malaysia’s Mohd Haikal Nazri is working hard to manage injury concerns and end a frustrating streak of early exits as he heads into the German Open with doubles partner Choong Hon Jian. The pair will face a stern test in the opening round when they take on world No. 3 Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang of China in the tournament beginning Tuesday in Europe.
Haikal and Hon Jian have struggled to make progress in their recent events, suffering first-round defeats at the Malaysian Open, Indian Open and Indonesian Masters last month. With confidence shaken by those results, Haikal said his primary goal for the German Open is simply to advance beyond the first match.
Reflecting on the difficult run, Haikal acknowledged he still carries some apprehension about his physical condition. Although he has recovered from previous injuries that hindered his performance and ranking, the fear of re-injuring himself remains in the back of his mind.
“My immediate aim is not to set high targets but to get past the first round,” Haikal said, while admitting that slight fear of aggravating past injuries persists.
Despite the challenges, Haikal is determined to maintain a cautious approach while competing in Europe. Success in the opening match could help restore his and Hon Jian’s form and confidence after a difficult stretch on the international circuit.
Meanwhile, other Malaysian pairs are also preparing for their respective draws, with top seeds Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik among those competing in the German Open.
Haikal’s efforts underline a broader theme in Malaysian badminton as players balance injury recovery with the pressure to perform on the world stage.
