Badminton: Wei Chong-Kai Wun’s steely show draws cheers but Rexy wants more

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun are going from strength to strength in the men’s doubles in the Arctic Open.

Just a day after stunning their seniors Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 21-11, 21-18 in their opening match, world No. 23 Wei Chong-Kai Wun fought hard to edge dangerous Japanese duo Keiichiro Matsui-Yoshinori Takeuchi 22-20, 20-22, 21-19 in a thrilling second-round clash at the Energia Arena in Vantaa on Thursday.

It was sweet revenge for Wei Chong-Kai Wun after they had lost in similar fashion to world No. 27 Matsui and Takeuchi in the first round of the Indonesian Open in June.

The Japanese pair had toppled the likes of world No. 4 Aaron-Wooi Yik and independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (No. 9) this year and were no pushovers.

Wei Chong-Kai Wun though stuck to their task and showed nerves of steel in the close match lasting 72 minutes to come away with a valuable victory.

The pair, who have been struggling to play consistently at a high level this year, have now reached their first quarter-finals since capturing the Taiwan Open in June.

National coaching director Rexy Mainaky was pleased with Wei Chong-Kai Wun’s win but wants more from them.

“Wei Chong-Kai Wun actually controlled the game yesterday (Thursday),” said Rexy.

“But their decision making was not steady enough.

“They are improving well in this tournament so far but are not consistent yet.”

Wei Chong-Kai Wun will next take on Indonesia’s 2022 Asian champions Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan for a place in the last four.

Yew Sin-Ee Yi also made it into the last eight with a 21-17, 21-14 win over Scotland’s Alexander Dunn-Adam Hall.

They will next play Denmark’s Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s challenge in the women’s doubles is over after Anna Cheong-Teoh Mei Xing went down 13-21, 13-21 to Thailand’s Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai.

In the mixed doubles, independent pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing’s campaign also came to an end after they lost out 10-21, 17-21 to Hong Kong’s Reginald Lee-Ng Tsz Yau.