KUALA LUMPUR: It's a double booster. Malaysia will have both quality and quantity in men's doubles at next's World Championships in Paris.
Malaysia will be the only country represented by four men's pairs, not even China or Indonesia, at the world meet.
This came about after Wan Arif Junaidi–Yap Roy King became the fourth Malaysian pair to qualify for Paris.
World No. 24 Arif–Junaidi came in after Indonesian world No. 17 Shohibul Fikri-Daniel Marthin decided not to compete in the world meet as Daniel is still recovering from knee surgery.
Earlier, world No. 2 Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik, world No. 4 Goh Sze Fei–Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and world No. 7 Man Wei Chong–Tee Kai Wun have booked their world tickets.
The more, the better is Malaysia's chance of landing a second world title since Aaron–Wooi Yik's triumph in 2022 in Tokyo where Malaysia were also represented by four pairs.
However, a cautious national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said having the numbers may not make the task easier.
"Numbers alone will not ensure success. We must make sure our preparation heads in the right way for the title.
"So, it is not about how many of our pairs qualified for Paris. We will have to fight for that, and good preparation will ensure the title."
Rexy's caution may have some truth, as Aaron–Wooi Yik were left to battle on their own after Sze Fei–Izzuddin, Ong Yew Sin–Teo Ee Yi and Goh V Shem–Tan Wee Kiong were eliminated before the World Championships quarter-final in 2022.
Malaysia had three pairs at the last World Championships (2023), where Aaron–Wooi Yik secured a bronze while Wei Chong–Kai Wun and Yew Sin–Ee Yi crashed out in the third round.
