Malaysia enters Thursday’s quarter-finals at the Grand Arena Paris with three distinct pairs contending for the men’s doubles title at the French Open, chasing the country’s first tournament victory in the category since 2004, The Star reported.

Three Pairs Reach Quarter-Finals in Paris

Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, and Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani all advanced past the second round. The last Malaysian men’s doubles pair to win the French Open title was Gan Teik Chai and Koo Kien Keat in 2004. Following the death of Gan Teik Chai in 2023 at the age of 40, players and supporters view a potential victory in the French capital as a poignant tribute to the late national player.

All-Malaysian Showdown Guarantees Semi-Finalist

The draw guarantees that at least one Malaysian duo will advance to the semi-finals. World No. 4 Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are set to square off against world No. 11 Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun in the quarter-finals. Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik secured their spot when their scheduled second-round opponents, Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul of Thailand, conceded a walkover. Meanwhile, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun earned their progression by eliminating former world champions Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi of Japan in a tight straight-games match, 25-23, 21-14.

Sixth Seeds Navigate Danish Test to Face South Koreans

Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani booked their place in the next round by overcoming Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard 21-6, 14-21, 21-18. The sixth-seeded Malaysian pair now faces a more formidable challenge in the quarter-finals against South Korea’s Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae. The South Korean duo advanced after defeating another Malaysian pair, Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King, in the second round.

Past Near-Misses Shape the Current Campaign

Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik came closest to ending the long-standing title drought last season, reaching the semi-finals before falling to Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri.