The Japanese men’s doubles pair of Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita, currently ranked world No. 22, are fast becoming a major threat to Malaysian men’s doubles — with former Malaysian international Lee Wan Wah playing a key role behind their rise.
At last weekend’s India Open Super 750, the duo stunned former world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the semi-finals, handing the Malaysians their first defeat to the Japanese pair and denying them a place in the final for the second straight week.
Guided by Lee Wan Wah, now the Japanese national men’s doubles coach, Midorikawa and Yamashita have consistently troubled Malaysian pairs. Their danger was already evident at the Kumamoto Open Super 500 last November, where they upset four Malaysian men’s doubles pairs in succession — including world No. 2 Aaron-Soh — underlining their growing influence on the circuit.
Those who fell to the Japanese pair included Man Wei Chong–Tee Kai Wun (world No. 6), Goh Sze Fei–Nur Izzuddin (world No. 7), Wan Arif Junaidi–Yap Roy King (world No. 17), and Ong Yew Sin–Teo Ee Yi (world No. 34).
With Lee Wan Wah’s tactical guidance, the duo are quickly establishing themselves as one of Malaysia’s most uncomfortable opponents on the men’s doubles stage.
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