Tee Kai Wun and new partner Yap Roy King secured their first title together at the Korean Masters, defeating former partner Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik 21-13, 21-18 in the final in Asan.
The Malaysian duo, playing in just their third tournament together, produced a confident performance to cap a remarkable turnaround after early exits at the China Open and Taiwan Open.
Despite facing his former partner of five years, Kai Wun insisted there were no mixed emotions during the final, with both pairs fully focused on the match.
“We had been partners for about five years, but this was the final. We didn’t think about our previous partnership,” Kai Wun said.
Their run to the title was helped by a semi-final walkover, giving them more energy heading into the final. Wei Chong and Wooi Yik, meanwhile, had to battle through a tough three-game semi-final.
Roy King credited Kai Wun’s experience and calmness for helping the new partnership overcome pressure in the final.
“We didn’t expect to make the final. I told my partner to just enjoy the game and try to find the rhythm,” Roy King said.
“He is more experienced than me and always leads me back and stays calm. Whenever I felt lost, he was there to pull me back.”
The victory marks a major milestone for Kai Wun and Roy King as they continue to build their partnership.
Meanwhile, China’s Zhu Xuanchen and India’s Ashmita Chaliha also claimed their maiden Tour titles in the men’s and women’s singles respectively.
