KUALA LUMPUR – National men’s doubles pair Choong Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal Nazri have a big test ahead of them at the Indonesia Masters.
They have been elevated to the main draw after India’s world number two pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty withdrew from the Super 500 tournament.
Ranked 51st in the world, Hon Jian-Haikal are set to clash with a pair emerging from the qualifying rounds tomorrow.
National men’s doubles coach Tan Bin Shen this marks a crucial moment for the promising pair, who clinched two titles last year, as they step onto the court of their first-ever Super 500 tournament.
Their previous highest level of play was at the Super 300.
“This is a big test for them before they continue to step up to bigger tournaments.
“My advice to them is to use everything they have learned in training while competing,” said Bin Shen when met at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) today.
Reflecting on their commendable victories at the Super 300 Syed Modi International and Super 100 Guwahati Masters, Bin Shen added that Hon Jian-Haikal have shown improvements in training.
However, he refrained from making predictions about their chances of winning the tournament.
“Let them play first – we will gauge their capabilities on the court.
“Their result in this tournament will set a new benchmark for them,” he added.
In a testament to their rapid ascent in the badminton scene, Hon Jian and Haikal joined forces as a men’s doubles pair just last August.
Their partnership quickly gained traction, propelling them to the final of the Super 100 Indonesia Masters a mere two months later, where they secured the runners-up position.
Undeterred by the setback, the duo showcased their resilience and growing chemistry on the court in December at the Syed Modi International where they clinched their first BWF World Tour title.
The journey to victory included impressive triumphs over England’s second-seeded pair Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in the semi-finals, followed by a stellar performance against Japan’s top-seeded Akira Koga and Taichi Saito in the final. – January 23, 2024