French Open badminton: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun set up all-Malaysian quarter-final with Aaron-Wooi Yik

Malaysia will have at least one men's doubles pair in the semi-finals of the French Open after the second round in Paris produced an all-Malaysian quarter-final. Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun knocked out Japan's Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi, and will now face national teammates Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who progressed without hitting a shuttle. In all, five Malaysian doubles pairs reached the last eight of the Super 750 event at the Arena Grand Paris.

Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun topple former world champions

The standout result of the second round, played on Thursday in Paris (the early hours of Friday in Malaysia), came from Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun. They beat Hoki and Kobayashi, the 2021 world champions, 25-23, 21-14 in 41 minutes. The tight opening game was decisive; once the Malaysians edged it, they controlled the second.

The win levels their head-to-head record against the Japanese pair at two wins each, according to Bernama. It also sets up a meeting with Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, who received a walkover from Thailand's Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul. Because the two Malaysian pairs meet in the quarter-finals, one of them is guaranteed a semi-final place.

Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin survive, Aaron Tai-Roy King fall to world No.1s

Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani also advanced, but it took three games. They raced through the opener 21-6 against Denmark's Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard, dropped the second 14-21, then held on 21-18 in the decider after 50 minutes.

Their reward is a quarter-final against South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae, the world No.1 pair. That is a tough draw: Goh-Nur Izzuddin have lost four of their six previous meetings with the Koreans.

Kim and Seo reached that tie by ending the run of another Malaysian pair. Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King, who had set up the clash with a first-round win earlier in the week, lost 21-14, 21-16 in just 33 minutes.

Pearly-Thinaah win the Malaysian derby

In women's doubles, world No.4 Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah needed 46 minutes to get past compatriots Carmen Ting and Ong Xin Yee, 21-14, 22-20. The second game was close, and The Star reported Pearly admitting the pair were not in top physical condition, a week after winning the Denmark Open in Odense.

Pearly said the duo had to be patient against opponents who were physically strong and powerful. Their next opponents are Bulgaria's Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva, with a semi-final place on the line.

Mixed doubles: Pang Ron-Pei Jing stay alive

Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing are also through to the quarter-finals after their earlier first-round upset of China's Gao Jiaxuan-Wu Mengying. They will play Germany's Marvin Seidel and Thuc Phuong Nguyen, the pair who knocked out Malaysia's Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie in round one.

What to watch in the quarter-finals

The quarter-finals are scheduled for Friday in Paris, which means Friday evening and night in Malaysia. Results were not yet available at the time of writing. The Malaysian ties are:

• Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun v Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik
• Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani v Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae (South Korea)
• Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah v Gabriela Stoeva-Stefani Stoeva (Bulgaria)
• Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing v Marvin Seidel-Thuc Phuong Nguyen (Germany)

The semi-finals follow on Saturday and the finals on Sunday.

Key takeaways

• Malaysia are guaranteed a men's doubles semi-finalist after an all-Malaysian quarter-final was set up.
• Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun beat 2021 world champions Hoki-Kobayashi 25-23, 21-14.
• Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin face world No.1s Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae after a three-game win over Denmark's Lundgaard-Vestergaard.
• Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah beat Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee and now meet the Stoeva sisters.
• Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King were eliminated by the Korean world No.1s.

FAQ

How many Malaysians are in the French Open quarter-finals? Five Malaysian doubles pairs reached the last eight: three in men's doubles, one in women's doubles and one in mixed doubles.

Why is Malaysia guaranteed a semi-finalist? Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are drawn against each other in the quarter-finals, so one Malaysian pair must progress to the semi-finals.

How did Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik reach the quarter-finals? They received a walkover in the second round from Thailand's Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul.

Sources: Bernama, Free Malaysia Today, Malay Mail, The Star, New Straits Times