KUALA LUMPUR: Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King are fast making a name for themselves, and their latest scalp at the Kumamoto Masters Japan suggests the newly formed men’s doubles pair are ready to challenge more established opponents.
Playing in their fifth tournament together, they stunned senior compatriots and world No. 5 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani 21-14, 21-15 today to book their place in the quarter-finals.
It was their biggest victory in terms of their opponents’ ranking and their second success against a top-10 combination since joining forces last month.
They had beaten world No. 7 Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani en route to the Hylo Open semi-finals in Germany two weeks ago.
With Sze Fei-Izzuddin and world No. 9 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun both eliminated, Aaron-Roy King are now Malaysia’s sole survivors in the men’s doubles competition.
Their next challenge comes against Taiwan’s world No. 15 Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan on Friday.
Although the Taiwanese are World Championships bronze medallists, their recent results suggest they are far from unbeatable.
Since their podium finish, Jhe Huei-Po Hsuan have suffered three successive opening-round defeats at the China Masters, Denmark Open and French Open before reaching only the last 16 at the Hylo Open.
Friday’s encounter will be the first between the two combinations, with Aaron-Roy King having every reason to approach the contest with confidence.
The Malaysians have enjoyed a remarkable start to their partnership, capturing the Arctic Open title on their debut before making the Hylo Open semis.
Another last-four appearance would further strengthen the case for national men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi’s decision to retain them as a permanent combination.
Having already climbed to world No. 57, Aaron-Roy King will also be eager to maintain their rapid progress towards the top 32.
A victory on Friday would preserve Malaysia’s proud record of having at least one men’s doubles semi-finalist at Kumamoto every year since the tournament began in 2023.
Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi started the streak in 2023, followed by Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub in 2024 and Sze Fei-Izzuddin last year.
For Sze Fei-Izzuddin, Thursday’s defeat was particularly disappointing after their French Open runners-up finish last month.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun also had a frustrating day, falling to Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard 21-15, 21-18.
The setback interrupted their impressive recent run, which saw them capture the French Open crown before reaching the Korea Open semi-finals.
In mixed doubles, Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing also bowed out after losing 21-12, 21-19 to China’s world No. 2 Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin.
The Malaysians threatened to force a decider after leading 11-6 and 19-17 in the second game, only to concede four consecutive points.
It was their third straight defeat to the Chinese pair, who also beat them at the Macau Open in June and last week’s Korea Open.