KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Tee Kai Wun has apologised to fans after he and Man Wei Chong crashed out in the men’s doubles semi-finals of the Hylo Open on Saturday.
He also posted a picture of him taking a painkiller jab on his left calf on his Instagram.
Kai Wun wrote that it was a wonder that he managed to go this far in Saarbrucken, Germany, despite not fully recovering from the injury sustained during training four weeks ago, which had forced them to withdraw from the Arctic and Denmark Opens.
Restricted by the injury, world No. 5 Wei Chong–Kai Wun were unable to mount a strong challenge in the last four at the Hylo Open and lost 21-15, 21-16 to Indonesia’s world No. 11 Sabar Karyaman–Moh Reza Isfahani.
“Sorry everyone. I tried my best. I didn’t know I could last until now and I am so happy to have done this,” wrote Kai Wun on his Instagram.
“Thank you everyone for your continued encouragement and support.”
National men’s doubles head coach Herry IP said he strongly felt that Wei Chong-Kai Wun could have won if not for Kai Wun’s injury.
Their ability was evident when they took South Korean world No. 1 Kim Won Ho–Seo Seung Jae to three games before bowing out at the French Open quarter-final last week and they also upstaged high-riding Indonesian world No. 19 Fajar Alfian–Shohibul Fikri in the Hylo Open last eight.
“If Kai Wun had fully recovered, I’m sure they would have played much better and won the match,” said Herry.
Their extraordinary effort at the French and Hylo Opens has put them in the driver’s seat to claim a spot at the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou on Dec 17–21, alongside world No. 2 Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik.
The two pairs will continue to battle for points at the Kumamoto Masters in Japan on Nov 11–16 and Australia Open on Nov 18–23.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
