Guwahati: Choong Hon Jian/Muhammad Haikal secured their second consecutive BWF World Tour title this year at Guwahati Masters on Sunday, making them the sole Malaysian shuttlers to achieve such a feat in 2023. The World No. 69 pair, triumphant at the Syed Modi International on December 3rd, and emerged victorious in the Guwahati Masters final on Sunday by defeating the Chinese Taipei duo Lin Bing-Wei/Su Ching Heng, ranked 268th globally, with a score of 21-17, 23-21.
Their remarkable achievement positions them as the only Malaysian singles players or pairs to clinch championships in back-to-back weeks in the 2023 BWF World Tour. They join the ranks of other Malaysian champions in 2023, including Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin (US Super 300, Abu Dhabi Super 100, and Kaohsiung Super 100), Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei (Orléans Masters, Iran Fajr International, and Taipei Open Super 300), Lee Zii Jia (Arctic Open Super 500), Leong Jun Hao (Kuala Lumpur Super 100), Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (Denmark Open Super 750), Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun (Taipei Super 300), Yap Roy King/Valeree Siow (Indonesia Masters Super 100), and Tan Peng Soon/Cheah Yee See (Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Masters Super 100).
The noteworthy aspect is that Choong/Haikal began their partnership only in September this year and have already secured two BWF World Tour titles in just three months.
In the men’s singles final, Indonesia’s Yohanes Saut Marcellyno defeated teammate Alvi Wijaya Chairullah 21-12, 21-17, while Thailand’s Lalinrat Chaiwan claimed the women’s singles title by overcoming Denmark’s Line Christophersen 21-14, 17-21, 21-16.
Singapore’s Terry Hee Yong Kai/Jessica Tan Wei Han triumphed in the mixed doubles final, defeating Denmark’s Mads Vestergaard/Christine Busch with a score of 21-19, 21-11. In the women’s doubles final, India’s second seeds Tanisha Crasto/Ashwini Ponnappa secured victory against Sung Shuo Yun/Yu Chien Hui of Chinese Taipei with a score of 21-13, 21-19, earning the host country’s sole title.
