KUALA LUMPUR – Despite being last year’s runners-up at the Malaysia Masters, Malaysian men’s doubles pair, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, remain resolute in their focus, recognising the unique challenges of this year’s edition amidst the absence of several top players.
The Malaysia Masters, scheduled from May 21 to 26 at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, will see Wei Chong and Kai Wun enter as the seventh seed.
However, Wei Chong and Kai Wun, ranked 20th in the world, have expressed concern about maintaining their unwavering concentration on the court, especially during critical moments in matches.
To address this, the pair has proactively sought the assistance of sports psychologist Frederick Tan, aiming to bolster their mental resilience not only for the Malaysia Masters but also for other international tournaments throughout the year.
“For us, adequate preparation is paramount, given our previous success reaching the final last year. We’re focusing on giving our best, having dedicated over a month to prepare for this tournament.
“Despite the absence of many top players, since most of them focus on the upcoming Paris Olympics, some formidable opponents remain. We cannot afford to underestimate anyone and must approach each match with a high focus.
“We have consulted a sports psychologist, and he has helped us reduce stress, so it has somewhat made us feel excited,” said Kai Wun.
The duo also seem unfazed by the new approach implemented by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), which will only reveal the tournament draw a week before the event begins.
For this edition, Wei Chong and Kai Wun will face Wu Hsuan Yi and Chiang Chein Wei from Chinese Taipei in the first round.
“We are not worried about the draw, and we have also been preparing before the draw was released,” he added. – May 15, 2024