KUALA LUMPUR: National men’s doubles shuttler Wan Muhammad Arif Wan Junaidi admits to feeling a little ‘threatened’ by the success of his former partner Muhammad Haikal Nazri, who recently emerged champion twice in a row with current partner Choong Hon Jian.
Wan Muhammad Arif, however, hopes that his former partner’s success will spur and inspire him to do the same with his current partner Yap Roy King.
“Maybe a little threatened because his ranking has risen but I consider their achievement as healthy competition among us,” he said after a training session.
Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal proved that they have forged a solid partnership, despite only being paired up four months ago, by winning two titles in one week in India this month.
World number 52 Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal won their first title by coming from behind to stun world number 14 Akira Koga-Taichi Saito of Japan 18-21, 21-18, 21-16 in the 2023 Syed Modi India International in Lucknow.
They kept up their winning ways by downing Taiwan’s Lin Bing Wei-Su Ching Heng, 21-17, 23-21 to emerge as champions in the 2023 Guwahati Masters in Assam, India.
Meanwhile, Wan Muhammad Arif expects to return to action either next February or March as Roy King is still recovering from his knee injury.
“I was told that Roy King has to rest for six to eight weeks. So, I told him not to rush, otherwise he might injure himself again,” he said.
The 21-year-old Wan Muhammad Arif also hopes that they can break into the top 30 in the world and bag at least one title next year.
Since being paired up in March, Wan Muhammad Arif-Roy King have played in 12 international tournaments, including winning the 2023 Nantes International Challenge in Reze, France by defeating Indonesians Muh Putra Erwiansyah-Patra Harapan Rindorindo 21-16, 14-21, 21-12.
The world number 60 Wan Muhammad Arif-Roy King were also crowned champions of the 2023 National Badminton Championships in July after they defeated Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong 21-17, 21-12. – Bernama
