KUALA LUMPUR – National men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun etched a new chapter in their badminton journey by storming into their first-ever Super 1000 final at the Indonesia Open.
The 20th-ranked pair showcased their prowess in a riveting semi-final against home favourites Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani to clinch victory last night.
In a heart-pounding encounter, Wei Chong and Kai Wun enthralled the fans at Jakarta’s Istora Senayan, claiming a nail-biting first set 29-27.
Undeterred, the unseeded pair sealed the deal in the second set with a commanding 21-13 finish, wrapping up the match in just 45 minutes.
Their remarkable feat makes them the sole Malaysian representatives to make the tournament’s finals.
Reflecting on their achievement in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation, Kai Wun expressed his disbelief.
“I never expected that we could get into the final… but we built up our courage and kept pushing until we finally reached the final.”
While celebrating their achievement, Wei Chong emphasised that their journey was far from over.
“For sure we are happy with this achievement, but our job is not done yet. We will keep the momentum going.”
Their route to the final was marked by a monumental upset in the first round, where they triumphed over South Korea’s world champions Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae.
In the final scheduled for this afternoon, they will go head-to-head against China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, who secured their berth with a dominant victory over Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen. – June 9, 2024