World Champions Tang Jie Ee Wei Withdraw From Korea Open

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Chen Tang Jie (left) and Toh Ee Wei celebrate a point during their mixed doubles semi-final against China’s Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping at the China Masters in Shenzhen on Saturday. - AFP PICKUALA LUMPUR: World champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei have pulled out of the Korea Open, which begins on Tuesday, to take a much-needed break before returning to action in Europe next month.
The withdrawal came as little surprise after Ee Wei revealed she had injured her back during several matches at the China Masters in Shenzhen last week.
The Super 750 event had started badly for Ee Wei, who was already battling fever and a cough.
Despite her struggles, the world No. 3 stunned China's top-ranked Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping in the semi-finals before falling 21-8, 21-17 to Thailand's world No. 4 Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran in Sunday's final.
The defeat will see Tang Jie-Ee Wei slip one place to world No. 4, with Dechapol-Supissara climbing above them when the latest Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings are released on Tuesday.
They are not the only absentees.
Men's doubles world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, No. 8 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, along with women's doubles world No. 2 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, have also withdrawn.
Malaysia will, however, still be represented in Suwon.
National coaching director Rexy Mainaky has challenged the back-up doubles pairs, spearheaded by Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King, to make their mark at the Super 500 tournament.
"The seniors are not playing in Korea, so we hope the back-up pairs like Arif-Roy King can seize the opportunity," said Rexy.
"They face tough matches, but we want to see them go far.
"All our top pairs will return for the three European tournaments starting with the Arctic Open (Oct 7-14)."
Arif-Roy King, who won the Macau Open recently, were unlucky to fall to eventual runners-up Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in the first round of the China Masters.
The world No. 20 now face a tricky opener against Korea's World No. 57 Jin Yong-Na Sung Seung.
Meanwhile, world No. 46 Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri are expected to overcome Thailand's world No. 40 Sukphun Peeratchai-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul in their first round before a likely clash with former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan in the second.
Independent pairs face even sterner tests.
World No. 29 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi take on Korea's world No. 31 Kang Min Hyuk-Ki Dong Ju, while world No. 23 Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong have been drawn against Indonesia's world No. 76 Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri.
World No. 45 Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong also face a tough opening hurdle against Japan's 26th-ranked Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita. - NST

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