Doubles dream of 1-2 as Ong-Teo and Goh-Izzuddin reach Japan Open semis in style

Badminton News

PETALING JAYA: It was a day when the professional men doubles shuttlers stole the show by toppling giants and turning the Japan Open into a stage for their resurgence.

Old-hands Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi pulled off the biggest shock of the day when they sent China’s top duo Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang packing in the quarter-finals while world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani kept their hopes of defending their title alive by coming out on top over Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri.

Yew Sin-Ee Yi were over the moon after finally finding the formula to overcome Weikeng-Wang Chang after three defeats to the pair this year.

Hopes were not high on the world No. 30 against the Paris Olympics silver medallists but the independent combo played brilliantly to defy the odds and claim a narrow 25-23, 21-19 victory at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium yesterday.

Yew Sin, who wed former Japanese women’s singles player Aya Ohori last month, looked in inspired form with Ee Yi as the pair reached the last four for the first time this year.

“I’m quite excited about this win. This is a confidence boost to ourselves. This means a lot to us,” said Yew SIn in an interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) yesterday.

Ee Yi said: “We tried to avoid easy mistakes because we played against Weikeng-Wang Chang a few times and the points were always close.

“So, we tried to be more patient and luckily we could play like how we wanted today (yesterday).

Yew Sin, 30 and Ee Yi, 32 have superbly turned around their form after suffering seven consecutive first round exits this year.

The pair last made it into the last four in the China Open last September.

Even Yew Sin-Ee Yi admitted that even they were surprised by their sensational run in the tourney.

“We were really surprised that we could reach the semi-finals after losing in the first round seven times which is not easy to do,” joked Ee Yi.

“After this, we don’t want to think too much about winning but we just want to really enjoy ourselves and try to take it step by step.”

Yew Sin-Ee Yi though have a tough task next against South Korea’s world No. 3 Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho.

Seung-jae-Won-ho beat another Malaysian pair, world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 21-13, 18-21, 21-13 to book their spot in the last four.

Meanwhile, Sze Fei-Izzuddin had to survive a huge scare against scratch pairing Fajar-Shohibul before coming away with a hard fought 21-13, 17-21, 22-20 win in 59.

The pair were staring at defeat when they trailed 19-20 in the third game but showed great determination to come back to snatch victory.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin will next take on Taiwan’s Liu Kuang-heng-Yang Po-han, who defeated another Malaysian duo Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 18-21, 25-23, 21-17.

If both pros win their matches, it will be another all-Malaysian final in men’s doubles, just like how it was at the Malaysian Masters this year when Wei Chong-Kai Wun beat Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik for the title.

There was also joy for Malaysia in the women’s doubles when world No. 3 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah made it into the last four with a 21-15, 21-19 victory over South Korea’s Jeong Na-eun-Lee Yeon-woo.

Standing in Pearly-Thinaah’s way to the final will be world No. 2 and home favourites Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida.

RESULTS

(Malaysians unless stated)

Quarter-finals

Men’s singles: Koki Watanabe (Jpn) bt Weng Hongyang (Chn) 15-21, 21-15, 21-11; Alex Lanier (Fra) bt Chi Yu-jen (Tpe) 21-16, 21-14; Shi Yuqi (Chn) bt Wang Tzu-wei (Tpe) 21-19, 21-10; Christo Popov (Fra) bt Kodai Naraoka (Jpn) 18-21, 21-13, 21-8.

Men’s doubles: Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi bt Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang (Chn) 25-23, 21-19; Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho (Kor) bt Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun 21-13, 18-21, 21-13; Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani bt Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri (Ina) 21-13, 17-21, 22-20; Liu Kuang-heng-Yang Po-han (Tpe) bt Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub 18-21, 25-23, 21-17.

Women’s singles: An Se-young (Kor) bt Chen Yufei (Chn) 21-16, 21-9; Wang Zhiyi (Chn) bt Putri Kusuma (Ina) 20-22, 21-17, 21-16; Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) bt Pornpawee Chochuwong (Tha) 21-15, 24-22; Riko Gunji (Jpn) bt Han Yue (Chn) 21-17, 21-10.

Women’s doubles: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bt Jeong Na-eun-Lee Yeon-woo (Kor) 21-15, 21-19; Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (Jpn) bt Kim Hye-jeong-Kong Hee-yong (Kor) 19-21, 21-19, 21-18; Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian (Chn) bt Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) 21-18, 17-21, 21-15.

Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara (Jpn) 21-14, 21-12; Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin (Chn) bt Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-13, 23-21; Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran (Tha) bt Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) 20-22, 21-14, 21-14; Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) bt Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito (Jpn) 21-10, 21-9.

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Yew Sin-Ee Yi stun China’s Weikeng-Wang Chang to reach Japan Open semis

Badminton News

PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi continued their sensational run in the Japan Open by toppling China’s top pair Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang to book their spot in the semi-finals.

Yew Sin, who wed Japan’s former women’s singles star Aya Ohori last week, seems to be inspired by the latter as he and Ee Yi played superbly to edge world No. 6 Weikeng-Wang Chang 25-23, 21-19 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Friday (July 18).

It was the world No. 30 independent pair’s second win over the Chinese duo in five meetings.

Yew Sin-Ee Yi have reached the last four for the first time this year and will take on South Korea’s world No. 3 Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho next.

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Roslin: Nothing to worry about Aaron-Soh’s early defeat

Badminton News

PETALING JAYA: Even seeded players can lose early, and there’s no reason to panic.

Former national shuttler Roslin Hashim believes that the early exit of world No. 2 men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik from the Japan Open on Wednes­day should not come as a shock, despite the high expectations placed on them to go far in the tournament.

Roslin said there could be various reasons behind Aaron-Wooi Yik’s below-par performance, but at the same time, he saw a silver lining in the result, as their defeat came at the hands of fellow Malaysians Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, who had been struggling for form over the past seven months.

Until now, the 2021 World Championships bronze medallists had not cleared the opening round of a tournament since the India Open in January.

In the first-round match at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Aaron-Wooi Yik fell to Yew Sin-Ee Yi 15-21, 15-21 in just 32 minutes.

Roslin, who won the Japan Open in 2001, said such results were part and parcel of the sport, but what mattered most would be on how the Asian champions would respond, especially with many tournaments still to come.

“I believe both pairs were well prepared, but perhaps on match day, Yew Sin was more fired up as the tournament was held in his wife’s hometown. That may have given him extra motivation to put on a stronger performance.

Yew Sin tied the knot with Japanese Aya Ohori last month.

“To me, it’s normal for seeded players to suffer early exits, especially when it’s an all-Malaysian clash. I understand many were disappointed, especially since there were high hopes for Aaron and Wooi Yik to win.

Still, Roslin believes the defeat will not affect Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik’s focus ahead of the China Open, which begins next Tuesday in Changzhou.

The world No. 2 pair are the second seeds and will open their campaign against rising Danish duo Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard.

“I don’t think their confidence will be shaken. They are experienced players and they certainly know how to bounce back from setbacks, having done it before.”

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Ee Yi-Yew Sin finally break first-round curse, but at Aaron-Wooi Yik’s expense

Badminton News

PETALING JAYA: The all-Malaysian clash between Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin in the first round of the Japan Open has brought a mix of emotions.

There was disappointment as second seeds Aaron-Wooi Yik suffered a shock early exit from the tournament, especially with high hopes riding on them to go far.

At the same time, there was relief for Ee Yi-Yew Sin, who finally broke their first-round curse.

Since the India Open in January, the pair had failed to progress past the opening hurdle in any of their tournaments.

This time, they showed renewed determination, especially Yew Sin who recently tied the knot with former Japanese singles shuttler Aya Ohori.

The former world championship bronze medallists in 2021 took just 30 minutes to upstage world No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik with a convincing 21-15, 21-15 win.

National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky admitted he was personally surprised by Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik’s early exit.

“It is definitely shocking when a seeded pair loses in the first round,” said Rexy briefly when contacted.

Meanwhile, it was a nervy path to the second round for Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who had to battle hard against fellow Malaysians Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi.

The sixth seeds narrowly took the opening game before pulling away in the second to secure a 30-28, 21-12 victory.

They will face China’s Huang Di-Liu Yang in the next round.

There was still something to cheer for in the national camp, thanks to a commanding performance from women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah.

Fresh off signing contract extensions with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), the pair looked sharp and composed as they eased past Bulgarian sisters Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva 21-16, 21-14 in just 31 minutes.

“They played with good composure. At the start, they were still adjusting to the drift in the hall, but once they took the lead at the interval, they controlled the match well,” said Rexy, who was pleased with their performance.

They will take on Taiwan’s Hsieh Pei-shang and Hung En-tzu in the second round today.

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Ee Yi-Yew Sin finally break first-round curse, but at Aaron-Wooi Yik’s expense

Badminton News

PETALING JAYA: The all-Malaysian clash between Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin in the first round of the Japan Open has brought a mix of emotions.

There was disappointment as second seeds Aaron-Wooi Yik suffered a shock early exit from the tournament, especially with high hopes riding on them to go far.

At the same time, there was relief for Ee Yi-Yew Sin, who finally broke their first-round curse. Since the India Open in January, the pair had failed to progress past the opening hurdle in any of their tournaments.

This time, they showed renewed determination, especially Yew Sin who recently tied the knot with former Japanese singles shuttler Aya Ohori.

The former world championship bronze medallists in 2021 took just 30 minutes to upstage Aaron-Wooi Yik with a convincing 21-15, 21-15 win.

National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky admitted he was personally surprised by Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik’s early exit.

“It is definitely shocking when a seeded pair loses in the first round,” said Rexy briefly when contacted.

Meanwhile, it was a nervy path to the second round for Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who had to battle hard against fellow Malaysians Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi.

The sixth seeds narrowly took the opening game before pulling away in the second to secure a 30-28, 21-12 victory. They will face China’s Huang Di-Liu Yang in the next round.

There was still something to cheer for in the national camp, thanks to a commanding performance from women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah.

Fresh off signing contract extensions with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), the pair looked sharp and composed as they eased past Bulgarian sisters Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva 21-16, 21-14 in just 31 minutes.

“They played with good composure. At the start, they were still adjusting to the drift in the hall, but once they took the lead at the interval, they controlled the match well,” said Rexy, who was pleased with their performance.

They will take on Taiwan’s Hsieh Pei-shang and Hung En-tzu in the second round today.

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Shuttler Yew Sin has no plans to quit after tying knot with Ohori

Badminton News

Looking resplendent: Ong Yew Sin posing with his wife Aya Ohori. — Yew Sin’s Instagram

PETALING JAYA: Professional men’s doubles shuttler Ong Yew Sin is on cloud nine after tying the knot with his sweetheart, former Japanese women’s singles ace Aya Ohori.

The couple were officially married in a civil ceremony at the National Registration Department (JPN) in Melaka on Thursday.

The 2021 World Championships bronze medallist Yew Sin shared that he was warmly welcomed by his in-laws, with his father-in-law Hitoshi Ohori, who is also the head coach of the Japanese national team, giving his blessing to the union.

“Thankfully, everything went smoothly, though the language barrier did make things a bit tricky,” said Yew Sin.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy or difficult, but I was definitely nervous when I decided to propose.”

Yew Sin said he would continue to be based in Malaysia to focus on his career with men’s doubles partner Teo Ee Yi, while Ohori may travel back and forth to Japan if any job opportunities come her way.

Ohori retired from international competition at the end of last year. Earlier this year, she took up a journalism role covering the Sudirman Cup in Xiamen in April.

“After the wedding, I’ll still be based here most of the time as I want to continue playing for a few more years. As for her, she might be flying back to Japan for some work opportunities.”

Yew Sin’s wedding ceremony took place at the Marriage and Divorce Division of the JPN, where the pair exchanged vows before assistant registrar Nur Fatehah Razali, witnessed by members of both families.

Yew Sin admitted that the process wasn’t entirely smooth sailing as he had to handle a fair amount of paperwork since his wife is not a Malaysian citizen.

Still, he was grateful for the support he received, which helped ease the process.

“It was a bit of a headache, not because of anything major, but simply because this was something new for me.

“I had to ask a lot of questions and settle many things since my fiancee (now wife) is not a local, so the process was quite different compared to what my friends experienced when they got married.

“Each country has its own procedures, but slowly and surely, everything fell into place,” added Yew Sin.

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Pro shuttler Yew Sin marries former Japanese ace Aya Ohori in Melaka

Badminton News

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian men’s doubles shuttler Ong Yew Sin and former Japanese women’s singles ace Aya Ohori have officially tied the knot.

The couple were wed in a civil marriage ceremony at the National Registration Department (JPN) in Melaka on Thursday (June 19).

The ceremony took place at JPN Melaka’s Marriage and Divorce Division, where the couple exchanged vows in the presence of assistant registrar Nur Fatehah Razali and close family members from both sides.

In a statement, JPN Melaka expressed its honour in being part of the couple’s special moment and extended its best wishes for a lasting union that celebrates the coming together of two cultures.

“Celebrating the love of Malaysian shuttler Ong Yew Sin and his bride Aya Ohori.

“Our heartfelt congratulations to the couple. May this beautiful union of love between two cultures last a lifetime,” shared JPN in a social media post.

Yew Sin, 30, won bronze at the 2021 World Championships with his partner Teo Ee Yi, and the pair currently sit at No. 31 in the world rankings.

Ohori won a bronze medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and also captured titles at the Thailand Masters and Australian Open last year. However, she announced her retirement at the end of the season.

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Pro doubles shuttler Yew Sin gets engaged to Aya Ohori

Badminton News

Men’s doubles shuttler Ong Yew Sin has gotten engaged to Japan’s former national player, Aya Ohori.

Yew Sin, who forms the men’s doubles partnership with Teo Ee Yi, shared the good news on his social media on Thursday (March 27), and said he had proposed Ohori.

“We couldn’t be more happier to share this with the world.” said the 30-year-old.

“Different nationality, different culture and different living style.

“We will learn to adapt and accept each other’s living style and understand each other’s culture throughout the years.”

Meanwhile, Yew Sin clarified that Ohori was not pregnant.

Ohori, one of Japan’s top women’s singles players, achieved her career high world ranking of No. 7 on Dec 17 last year.

The 28-year-old retired after completing her final tournament at the BWF World Tour Finals in December last year.

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