Kuala Lumpur — Malaysia’s men’s doubles shuttler Tee Kai Wun has declared he is ready to take a calculated risk with his recovery in order to fulfill his dream — qualifying for the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, scheduled from December 17 to 21, 2025.
Despite still battling a calf injury, Tee and his partner Man Wei Chong plan to compete in next week’s Kumamoto Masters to secure crucial ranking points that will confirm their spot among the top eight pairs eligible for the season-ending championship.
“After this, we will compete at the Kumamoto Masters because we haven’t qualified yet. We need to play to earn the remaining points,” said Tee Kai Wun.
“We already have a strong ranking position, and we’ll fight to make it official. Yes, I have to take some risks, but it’s necessary if we want to qualify for the World Tour Finals. We tried our best at the French and Hylo Opens, and the results were quite positive.”
Strong Recent Form Despite Setbacks
At last week’s Hylo Open, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun reached the semifinals before losing to Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 16-21, 15-21.
Earlier, the Malaysian duo also impressed at the French Open, advancing to the quarter-finals after pushing the World No. 1 pair from Korea, Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, to three tight games.
Currently ranked No. 3 on the BWF World Tour standings with 84,350 points, Man and Tee are just behind fellow Malaysians Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, who hold second place with 95,320 points.
Two Pairs Per Country Limit Adds Pressure
Under BWF regulations, only the top eight pairs on the World Tour ranking will qualify for the season finale in Hangzhou, with a maximum of two pairs per nation allowed in each category.
This means the competition for Malaysia’s two available spots is intense — and Tee knows every point counts.
Despite the lingering injury, his determination reflects the pair’s hunger to establish themselves among the world’s elite.
“It’s not easy, but we’ve come this far,” Tee said. “We want to end the year strong, no matter what it takes.”
As the 2025 Kumamoto Masters approaches, all eyes will be on whether Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun can hold their nerve, overcome physical challenges, and secure Malaysia’s second spot at the prestigious BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou.
