KUALA LUMPUR: It's an unhappy beginning to the New Year for men's badminton doubles Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri.
The world No. 21, who were looking forward to their Malaysian Open debut, had to withdraw from the Super 1000 tournament from Jan 7-12 due to a muscle tear on 22-year-old Haikal's thigh.
Outgoing national men's doubles coach, Tan Bin Shen, said a scan confirmed Haikal's injury.
"We don't know yet how long he will be out." said Bin Shen.
"He suffered the injury in training, and I only learned about it after returning from the World Tour Finals (in Hangzhou)."
Hon Jian-Haikal marked their rise by winning last year's Orleans Masters and reaching the semi-finals of the Australia Open.