The dream of a major breakthrough at the Thailand Masters has faded for Malaysia's independent men's doubles stars, as both Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong and Chia Wei Jie-Lwi Sheng Hao crashed out in the quarter-finals, leaving fans wondering what could have been. The path to glory in Bangkok proved elusive, despite promising starts for both pairings.
Key Takeaways from Bangkok:
- Azriyn-Wee Kiong, the tournament's 4th seeds, suffered an unexpected defeat to China's Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi.
- This marks their first quarter-final appearance since October's Denmark Open, but the wait for a semi-final berth continues.
- Fellow independents Chia Wei Jie-Lwi Sheng Hao were also overcome by formidable Indonesian duo Leo Rolly Carnando-Bagas Maulana.
- Despite the losses, both Malaysian pairs demonstrated encouraging signs of progress.
Fourth Seeds Stumble: Azriyn-Wee Kiong's Thailand Masters Exit
The biggest surprise saw Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub and veteran Tan Wee Kiong (world No. 28) unable to leverage their fourth seeding. They succumbed to China's relatively lower-ranked Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi (world No. 72) in a straight-game encounter, 21-13, 21-14. This marked the first time these two pairs had met on court, adding to the intrigue of the upset.
A Mixed Bag of Progress for the Veteran Duo
While the quarter-final finish is an improvement – their best performance since reaching the last eight at the Denmark Open in October where they famously toppled world No. 1s Seo Seung Jae-Kim Won Ho – the taste of disappointment remains. This exit means Azriyn-Wee Kiong are still searching for their first semi-final appearance since the Kumamoto Masters in November 2023. The consistency needed for deep tournament runs continues to be their challenge.
Another Malaysian Challenge Halted: Wei Jie-Sheng Hao's Journey Ends
Elsewhere, the promising run of independent pair Chia Wei Jie-Lwi Sheng Hao was also cut short. They faced a tough challenge against Indonesia's formidable world No. 16 Leo Rolly Carnando-Bagas Maulana, falling 21-11, 21-16.
Despite the defeat, this performance at the Thailand Masters represents a significant step forward for Wei Jie-Sheng Hao. It follows disappointing first-round exits at both the India Open and Indonesia Masters, showcasing a clear improvement in their form and competitive spirit on the BWF Tour.
Chasing Past Glory: Malaysia's Bangkok Legacy
The Thailand Masters has historically been a happy hunting ground for Malaysian men's doubles. Past champions include Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in 2019 and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi in 2020. However, 2024 proved to be a challenging year for the independent pairs attempting to add their names to that prestigious list. The road ahead demands greater consistency and resilience to break through into the elite tier of men's doubles.
