National men’s doubles pair Nur Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong’s remarkable campaign at the Kumamoto Masters badminton championship came to a halt in the semi-finals.
The Malaysian duo fell 12-21, 15-21 to Japan’s top-ranked pairing, Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi, in their first-ever encounter.
The world No. 9 Japanese pair needed just 33 minutes to dispatch world No. 40 Nur Azriyn and Wee Kiong in front of an electrified home crowd. The Malaysians, competing in their first BWF World Tour Super 500 semi-final, struggled to match the pace and precision of Takuro and Yugo, who controlled the match from start to finish.
Despite their best efforts, the Malaysians were outclassed in both games, with the Japanese duo capitalizing on their aggressive attacking play and solid defense. The raucous support from the Kumamoto crowd further fueled the hosts’ dominance on the court.
Although their run ended in the semi-finals, the tournament marked a significant milestone for Nur Azriyn and former Olympic silver medalist Wee Kiong. Reaching the final four of a Super 500 event for the first time demonstrated the pair’s growing synergy and potential to compete at higher levels.
With the victory, Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi advanced to the final, where they will face the winners of an all-Indonesian semi-final between Leo Rolly Carnando-Bagas Maulana and Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto.
Credit Photo : THE STAR
