Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King announced themselves as a pair to watch after winning the Korea Masters, defeating fellow Malaysians Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik in an all-Malaysian men’s doubles final.
The young duo produced a confident performance at the Super 300 tournament in Asan, winning 21-13, 21-18 to secure their first major breakthrough on the BWF World Tour.
Kai Wun and Roy King took control early with their aggressive approach and sharp play at the net, keeping Wei Chong and Wooi Yik under pressure throughout the match.
The victory also delivered the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) its first men’s doubles title of the season, providing a significant boost to the national programme.
The result is particularly encouraging given that both pairs are relatively new combinations. National coach Herry IP has been working on developing new partnerships, and the Korea Masters final provided a strong indication that Malaysia has growing depth beyond its established combinations.
While Kai Wun and Roy King celebrated their breakthrough, Wei Chong and Wooi Yik also showed they remain a competitive pairing capable of challenging for titles on the international circuit.
The success adds to an impressive season for Malaysian men’s doubles. Independent pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have already enjoyed major victories, winning the Indonesia Masters in January before adding the Indonesia Open title in June.
Kai Wun and Roy King’s triumph also carries historical significance at the Korea Masters. They became only the second Malaysian men’s doubles pair to win the tournament since its introduction in 2007.
The previous Malaysian champions were Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Chia, making Wooi Yik’s appearance in another Korea Masters final an interesting link between Malaysia’s established generation and its emerging talent.
For their title-winning performance, Kai Wun and Roy King collected US$19,750, worth approximately RM80,800, while runners-up Wei Chong and Wooi Yik earned US$9,500, or around RM38,900.
More importantly, the result gives Malaysia another promising partnership to follow as the country continues to strengthen its men’s doubles ranks.
