Malaysia’s leading doubles shuttlers have been given strong opportunities to challenge for titles at the upcoming Malaysia Masters after the tournament draw produced favourable paths for several home pairs.
Attention will be firmly on men’s doubles world No. 2 pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, who enter the Super 500 event as top seeds and among the favourites to lift the title on home soil.
Aaron and Wooi Yik are set to open their campaign against Singapore’s Wesley Koh and Junsuke Kubo before potentially facing a qualifier in the second round. A tougher challenge could emerge in the quarter-finals against France’s Christo Popov and Toma Junior Popov or China’s He Ke Yuan and Lin Xing Yi.
An all-Malaysian semi-final against Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani is also possible if both pairs progress.
The withdrawal of defending champions Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun due to Wei Chong’s knee injury has significantly opened the bottom half of the draw. Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi are now among the strongest contenders in that section.
In the women’s doubles event, world No. 2 pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah also appear well positioned for a deep run.
Source: Harian Metro
The Malaysians begin against a qualifying pair and are expected to face Japan’s Chiharu Shida and Arisa Igarashi in the quarter-finals. Another Japanese pair, Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi, are projected as possible final opponents.
Pearly and Thinaah are still searching for their first Malaysia Masters title, although concerns remain over Pearly’s fitness after recent back problems forced her withdrawal from the Uber Cup.
Mixed doubles world champions Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei arguably face the toughest challenge among the Malaysian title hopefuls.
The pair are drawn to meet Denmark’s European champions Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje in the semi-finals if results go according to seeding. A potential final against Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran could then await.
The Thai pair currently hold a strong head-to-head record against Tang Jie and Ee Wei, making them one of the biggest obstacles standing between Malaysia and a mixed doubles title.
Malaysia last achieved a clean sweep of all three doubles titles at the Malaysia Masters in 2012 through Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong in men’s doubles, Wong Pei Tty and Chin Eei Hui in women’s doubles, plus Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying in mixed doubles.
With strong seedings, home support and favourable draws, hopes are growing that Malaysia could once again enjoy a memorable week across all three doubles categories.
