Malaysia’s Jimmy Wong and Lai Pei Jing were left ruing another missed opportunity after falling 22-24, 18-21 to South Korea’s Kim Jae-hyeon and Jeong Na-eun in the Korean Masters 2025 mixed doubles final at the Wonkwang University Cultural and Sports Centre on Sunday.
Despite a spirited effort and flashes of brilliance, the independent Malaysian duo were once again denied their long-awaited first title as a pair, extending their streak of final defeats to seven since joining forces in March.
The world No. 37 pair started strong in the opening game, matching the eighth-seeded Koreans point-for-point in long rallies filled with intensity and tactical exchanges. However, after saving two game points, Jimmy-Pei Jing narrowly lost the opener 22-24.
In the second game, the Malaysians continued to fight hard, with Pei Jing’s sharp net play and Jimmy’s powerful smashes keeping them in contention. But Kim and Jeong displayed superior composure under pressure, closing out the match 21-18 after 54 minutes to delight the home crowd.
This latest runner-up finish marks the seventh time Jimmy-Pei Jing have reached a final in 2025 — an impressive show of consistency at the international level, though the elusive title remains out of reach.
The duo will now turn their focus to the Kumamoto Masters 2025, a BWF Super 500 event in Japan next week — their biggest challenge yet as a pair. A strong showing there could further boost their world ranking and confidence heading into the final stretch of the season.
Credit Photo : Daching Photo
