PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttler Tee Kai Wun admitted the World Championships draw was not what he had hoped for, with a possible clash against compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the third round when the tournament begins in New Delhi on Monday.

Kai Wun, who is back with regular partner Man Wei Chong, will open their campaign against the United States’ Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith, while fourth seeds Aaron-Wooi Yik have a first-round bye.

The situation is a slight concern for Kai Wun as he hopes to improve on last year’s performance in Paris, where he and Wei Chong were one win away from securing at least a bronze medal before losing to South Korea’s Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae in the quarter-finals.

“For now, we are taking it step by step. If we get through the first round, we could face our own teammates in the third round, so we just have to play well.

“It is a bit of a pity because we are not in the top eight at the moment. So, we will see. Of course, there is a little bit of regret,” said Kai Wun.

The World Championships will mark their first tournament together since they last played as a pair at the Thomas Cup Finals in Horsens in April.

After the tournament in Horsens, Wei Chong was sidelined for a lengthy period with a right knee injury before the pair were later split up and given new partners as part of head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi’s plans to find the best combinations ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Although they have not played together for four months, Kai Wun does not see it as a major problem, even though there are still a few areas they need to sharpen.

“I think it’s okay because we haven’t played in tournaments together for quite some time as he was injured, but I think the communication between us is still there.

“I don’t think much has changed because we still train together. It’s just that we don’t know how things will go in a tournament.

“I just hope we don’t play too badly. The most important thing is to bring out whatever we have,” he added.

Besides Wei Chong-Kai Wun and Aaron-Wooi Yik, Malaysia’s men’s doubles challenge in India will also feature Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King and former world No. 1 pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.