Badminton

Wei Chong-Kai Wun aim to reach world's top 10 by next month

KUALA LUMPUR: National men's pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun believe breaking into badminton's world's top 10 before the end of the year is within striking distance.

The world No. 14 know they can accomplish this feat if they secure strong results in the remaining events: the Kumamoto Masters Super 500 (Nov 12-17), China Masters Super 750 (Nov 19-24) and World Tour Finals (Dec 11-15).

Wei Chong-Kai Wun are currently seventh and strongly positioned to qualify for the season finale, which features the top eight performers of the World Tour season.

Kai Wun said entering the 2025 season as a top 10 pair would give them a much-needed head start before pursuing their top eight ambitions.

"We've set a ranking target of between 10th and 12th, so we're not too far away," said Kai Wun.

"With two events remaining, and possibly three if we qualify for the Finals, our chances of breaking into the top 10 remain strong.

"One of the pairs above us, Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan (ranked 11th and two-time Olympic gold medallists) have (just) retired, which opens the door for us to overtake them.

"However, we try not to focus too heavily on the gap we need to close, whether in world rankings or Race to Hangzhou, because ultimately what matters is delivering good results.

"We're aiming for at least semi-finals at every stop. If we achieve that, everything else will fall into place.

"Breaking into the top 10 is crucial for us, as our next goal is to reach the top eight and secure seeding for tournaments."

Kai Wun is also pleased with the progress he and Wei Chong have made this year.

Having finished the 2023 season in the top 20, they have built on that success with a series of solid results, most notably finishing as runners-up at the Indonesia Open.

"We've been reaping the rewards of our modified gameplay. We're performing much better and more consistently compared to last year," said Kai Wun.

"This is evident through our consistent quarter-final appearances. We want to elevate our performance by regularly reaching semi-finals next. While we're eager to win a title, we're mindful not to put too much pressure on ourselves."

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