KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 24 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi are embracing their status as elder statesmen in men's doubles as they aim for success in their new avatar at the Malaysia Open.
On Thursday, the independent duo upset South Korea's Jin Yong and Kang Min Hyuk 23-21, 16-21, 21-18 to reach the quarter-finals at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
Despite advancing age and the lack of a coach following Rosman Razak's departure to the BA of Malaysia (BAM) in November, Yew Sin, 30, and Ee Yi, 32, have defied expectations.
Their campaign kicked off with a stunning win over world No. 4 Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto of Indonesia in the opening round on Wednesday.
Ming Hyuk, 33, who returned to competition after completing three months of compulsory military service, won the world title in 2023 with Seo Seung Jae.
Jin Yong, 21, a rising star in Korean badminton, claimed the China Open Super 1000 crown with Seung Jae last November.
Ee Yi admitted that competing at their age requires a more calculated approach.
"At 32, maintaining the same energy level is tough. We have to play sensibly and avoid unforced errors," said Ee Yi.
"Their defence was solid, and it wasn't easy to finish points. Patience was key to defeating them. This win boosts our confidence, but we need to rest well and prepare for the quarter-finals tomorrow."
Despite the early exits of the top four seeds, Yew Sin remains cautious about their chances of lifting the title.
"We're not the fifth seeds, so we can't confidently claim we can go all the way," he said.
"Our focus is on reaching the semi-finals and beyond, but there are still strong pairs out there."
He added: "Let's not forget that we didn't have a great run last year, so we're giving it our all now. These days, even scratch pairs are incredibly strong, as Jin Yong-Min Hyuk demonstrated."
Yew Sin-Ee Yi, quarter-finalists in the last three editions of the Malaysia Open, are determined to break new ground in this year's tournament.