Taipei: In a thrilling men’s doubles final match, Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun emerged victorious over Lu Ching Yao/Yang Po Han with a score of 20-22, 21-17, 21-14. The victory not only allowed them to retain the championship they won last year but also marked their first title triumph of 2023.
After a closely contested first set which ended 20-22, Man/Tee displayed a more composed game in the second set. Ranked 23rd in the world, they clinched a 21-17 win, taking the match to a decisive third set.
Highlights of Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun vs. Lu Ching Yao/Yang Po Han in the 2023 Taipei Open final:
The third set witnessed an intense battle as the two pairs, who had never met before, exchanged points early on. However, Man/Tee managed to withstand the pressure and eventually secured a convincing 21-14 victory after 70 minutes of thrilling action.
This triumph comes as a good motivation for Man/Tee, who missed out on the opportunity to claim the title at the Malaysia Masters last month, losing to the South Korean pair of Kang Min Hyuk/Seo Seung Jae in a tightly contested match.
Notably, in the 2022 Taipei Open final, Man/Tee caused a major upset by defeating the gold medalists of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Lee Yang/Wang Chi Lin, to clinch their first Taipei Open title.
Throughout the history of the Taipei Open, other Malaysian men’s doubles pairs who have tasted victory in the final stage including Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong in 2019, Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif/Fairuzizuan Tazari in 2012, Chan Chong Ming/Koo Kien Keat in 2004, and Cheah Soon Kit/Soo Beng Kiang in 1992 and 1993. Jalani Sidek/Razif Sidek also claimed the title in 1986, 1989, and 1991.
Man/Tee’s victory earned them a prize money of US$16,590 (RM77,583).
In the men’s singles final, Taiwan’s 21-year-old shuttler Su Liyang currently ranked 42nd in the world, faced a defeat against Indonesia’s eighth-seeded Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo with a score of 21-23, 15-21. Su is expected to break into the top 40 rankings in the world next week.
