The gallant run of national men’s doubles shuttlers Tan Wee Kiong–Nur Azriyn Ayub at the Denmark Open ended today at the hands of China‘s top pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in the quarter-finals.
The Malaysians had entered the last eight after they stunned South Korea‘s world No 1 pair Kim Won Ho–Seo Seung Jae in straight games yesterday. They did give defending champions Wei Keng and Wang Chang some stiff resistance before losing 19-21, 18-21.
After losing narrowly in the first game, Wee Kiong-Azriyn even led 11-8 during the break in the second game but they failed to sustain the lead before going down in 38 minutes.
Wee Kiong-Azriyn, ranked world No 24, were the only Malaysian men’s doubles pair left standing in the quarter-finals after all the others, including Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were knocked out in the opening round.
Yesterday, Wee Kiong, who was the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist partnering Goh V Shem, and Azriyn defeated the formidable Won Ho–Seung Jae of South Korea 21–19, 21–14 in just 36 minutes to create the biggest upset of the championships.
