KUALA LUMPUR: Independent men's doubles pair Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong were desperate for a turnaround in their faltering career, and they found the perfect stage at the Malaysia Super 100 today.
World No. 52 Hang Yee-Eng Cheong started the final poorly but recovered to secure a hard-fought victory over No. 42 Presley Smith and Chen Zhi Yi of the United States. They triumphed 19-21, 21-15, 21-12 in a grueling 61-minute battle to claim their first career Super 100 title at Juara Stadium, Bukit Kiara.
The win was a much-needed breakthrough for the pair, who had suffered early exits in 13 of their previous 14 tournaments this year.
Their best showing before today's title came when they reached the semi-finals of the Orleans Open in France.
The duo had enjoyed a stellar 2023 season, winning the Slovenia Open, Austria Open, and Mongolia International Challenge, but their form had slumped since.
Eng Cheong believes that this title will provide them with the momentum to break into the top 32 in the world rankings, which would grant them entry into prestigious Super 500 and Super 1000 tournaments.
"Finally, we've won a title this year after the highs of last season," said Eng Cheong.
"We believe this win will boost our confidence and drive us forward. Our goal now is to break into the top 32, which would give us the chance to compete in bigger tournaments."
Eng Cheong also expressed his gratitude to seasoned doubles player Tan Wee Kiong, who has been acting as a mentor and unofficial coach for them and other independent pairs over the last three months.
"Wee Kiong has been instrumental in helping and guiding us through matches," said Eng Cheong.
"His technical expertise and match analysis have been invaluable."
Hang Yee-Eng Cheong will next compete in the Super 100 Indonesia Masters II in Surabaya on Oct 29-Nov 3.