KUALA LUMPUR: Former Olympic silver medallist Tan Wee Kiong is on a great run with Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub as they played like a possessed pair to storm into the Kumamoto Masters semi-finals in Japan today (Nov 15).
The world No. 40 duo, who have mostly been playing in Super 300 events since partnering each other in January, outclassed Taiwan's world No. 59 Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin 21-19, 21-19 in a 33-minute quarter-final encounter.
Wee Kiong, 35, won the men's doubles silver with Goh V Shem at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. But a lack of results led to the pair parting ways.
However, Wee Kiong's move to partner Azriyn, 31, this year seems to be bearing fruit.
Their run in Kumamoto has been impressive as they won all their matches in straight games, including a stunning victory over compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, the world No. 8, in the second round.
Awaiting them in the last four are Japan's former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi who ousted South Korea's Jin Yong-Seo Seung Jae 21-18, 29-27 in the last eight today (Nov 15).
Wee Kiong said he is pleasantly surprised with the results. "This is our best performance as a pair but we don't want to get carried away," he added.
"To be honest, Azriyn and I never think about records and statistics as we just want to keep improving our combination and our world ranking.
"Hoki and Kobayashi are still the favourites. So, we hope to perform well and give a good fight tomorrow (Nov 16)."
Azriyn-Wee Kiong aim to break into the world's top 32 which will enable them to play in Super 500 tournaments and above.