KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's hopes of having two men's pairs at the Paris Olympics badminton competition are rapidly diminishing.
Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi failed to live up to their top billing at the German Open today as they were defeated 21-5, 21-15 by China's world No. 14 Ren Xiang Yu-He Ji Ting in just 34 minutes
Yew Sin-Ee Yi's failure to capitalise on the absences of top pairs has diminished their already slim chance of making it to the Paris Games.
They could have made up some ground if they had won in Mulheim, potentially moving up from No. 13 to No. 12 in the Race to Paris standings.
Importantly, a first title in four years would have provided the momentum for them as they make their final push towards the end of the one-year Olympics qualification period (April 28).
Yew Sin-Ee Yi now face a daunting 14,199-point deficit to overcome if they are to have any chance of displacing Indonesia's Fajar Alfian- Muhammad Rian Ardianto from the eighth spot they currently occupy.
To put things in perspective, even if Yew Sin-Ee Yi were to win the French Open and All England over the next two weeks, they would still have ground to make up, particularly if Fajar-Rian accumulate points.
The only consolation for Yew Sin-Ee Yi at this stage is that a mathematical possibility for qualification still exists.
However, at this week's French Open, Yew Sin-Ee Yi must rise above their usual level as they are set to face India's world No. 1 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in the very first hurdle.
Following the All England, they will compete in the Swiss Open (March 19-24), Spain Masters (March 26-31) and Badminton Asia Championships (April 9-14) which offer points equivalent to Super 1000-level tournaments.
However, their major issue is maintaining their fitness level to excel in all these remaining tournaments.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, currently fifth in the Race to Paris, are all but assured of their second Olympics appearance following their bronze medal debut in Tokyo three years ago.
The last time Malaysia secured two Olympic slots in men's doubles was at Beijing in 2008 with Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah as the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the national team of Aaron-Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Nur Izzuddin Rumsani-Goh Sze Fei, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei - who skipped the German Open - arrived in Paris from Kuala Lumpur with renewed optimism.
"They've undergone thorough preparation, but it's paramount for them to sustain their form following this taxing journey," said national team head, Rexy Mainaky.
"They must swiftly acclimatise to the chilly weather here, having endured the intense heat and humidity in Kuala Lumpur.
"It's my hope to see them put up some good performances here and gain confidence ahead of the Olympics, which will take place exactly at this venue (the hosts for the Paris Games)."
