Reunited Patatimo Boys gear up for Indian tour reboot
KUALA LUMPUR: The 'Patatimo Boys', Wan Arif Junaidi-Haikal Nazri, are back together after three years apart.
The Patatimo Boys, Wan Arif Junaidi-Haikal Nazri, have reunited after a three-year hiatus. Their reunion campaign will commence with a series of tournaments in India, beginning with the Syed Modi International in November. The pair, originally from Terengganu and Kelantan respectively, were separated in 2023 as both pursued new partnerships.
Haikal initially teamed up with Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, while Arif began a new journey with Yap Roy King. Haikal later partnered Choong Hon Jian, a change prompted by the resolution of Izzuddin's personal disagreements. Injuries have left Haikal changing partners frequently, with Bryan Goonting his current ally. Arif has experimented with Kang Khai Xing and Faiq Haziq Masawi, but neither partnership has produced favorable results.
With Roy King now aligned with Aaron Tai, national men's doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has decided to reunite Arif and Haikal, considering them the most senior players on the roster. Their first tournament will be the Syed Modi International, followed by the Guwahati and Odisha Masters. The trio will serve as a trial period to assess the pair's compatibility, with Herry noting that the pair's performances will determine their future as a permanent team.
Past performances show Arif winning the 2024 Macau Open and Haikal achieving greater success with Hon Jian, including wins at the Syed Modi International, Guwahati Masters, and 2024 Orleans Masters. However, Arif's recent partnership with Faiq has been hindered by a shoulder injury, while Haikal's success was marred by a stint with Bachok's national player.
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