Wei Chong-Kai Wun Take Positives from Semi-Final Exit at Indonesian Open
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Malaysian men’s doubles pair Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun have expressed satisfaction with their overall performance at the Indonesian Open, despite narrowly missing out on a place in the final after a hard-fought semi-final defeat.
The world No. 7 duo went down 18-21, 21-12, 18-21 to Indonesian pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in a tense encounter at the iconic Istora Senayan on Saturday. The result denied Wei Chong-Kai Wun a repeat of their 2023 final appearance, but the pair remain upbeat.
“It’s not easy to play in Istora. Our opponents did very well too,” said Wei Chong in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF). “During the crucial points, we gave it everything. We just wanted to enjoy the game. The key is to always trust and support each other.”
Trailing 14-20 in the deciding game, the Malaysians mounted a spirited comeback to close the gap, winning four straight points before eventually falling short.
Kai Wun added, “Our momentum has been quite stable lately, and I’m happy with how we’re progressing. In men’s doubles, every point matters. You have to keep fighting until the last shot.”
After a shaky start to the season marked by early exits in several tournaments including the All England and Asian Championships, Wei Chong-Kai Wun have regained form with notable achievements. The pair won the Indonesian Masters in January and more recently lifted the Malaysian Masters title, followed by a quarter-final finish in Singapore and now a semi-final appearance in Jakarta.
A standout highlight was their straight-game win over India’s former world No. 1s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty—their first victory in five meetings with the Indian pair.
National doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi praised their performance, stating:
“Reaching the semi-finals in the Indonesian Open is a commendable achievement. They’ve gained valuable experience and showed strong mental resilience, especially against top opponents.”
With a brief competitive break on the horizon, Wei Chong-Kai Wun will next gear up for two key events: the Japan Open (July 15–20) and the China Open (July 22–27).
