Wan Muhammad Arif Shaharuddin bin Wan Junaidi (born 6 June 2002) is a Malaysian badminton player.[1][2] He won the 2021 Austrian Open and Ukraine International tournaments in the men's doubles event partnered with Muhammad Haikal.[3]

Junaidi Arif
Personal information
Birth nameWan Muhammad Arif Shaharuddin bin Wan Junaidi
CountryMalaysia
Born (2002-06-06) 6 June 2002 (age 21)
Kemaman, Terengganu, Malaysia
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
HandednessLeft
Men's doubles
Highest ranking38 (with Muhammad Haikal, 6 December 2022)
50 (with Yap Roy King, 2 April 2024)
Current ranking50 (with Yap Roy King, 2 April 2024)
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Malaysia
SEA Games
Silver medal – second place 2021 Vietnam Men's team
BWF profile

Career edit

2021 edit

Partnered with Muhammad Haikal, they won the Austrian Open,[4] Hellas International,[5] and Ukraine International.[6] The duo also finished as runners-up at the Latvia International[7] and Scottish Open.[8]

2022 edit

In April, Arif and Haikal reached the final of the Orléans Masters. However, they were forced to concede a walkover to Dutch pair Ruben Jille and Ties van der Lecq after Haikal was tested positive for COVID-19.[9][10]

He was part of the Malaysia's men's team that won silver medal at the 2021 SEA Games in May.[11][12]

A few months later, he and Haikal reached the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Masters.[13]

2023 edit

Following a reshuffle in the national men's doubles department in February, Arif began partnering Yap Roy King,[14] thus ending his long-time partnership with Haikal.[15]

In June, Arif and Yap captured their first title as a pair at the Nantes International defeating Putra Erwiansyah and Patra Harapan Rindorindo in the final.[16]

In July, they were crowned as men's doubles national champions after winning the 2023 National Championships.[17]

2024 edit

In late March, playing in only their second tournament of the year after an injury layoff, Arif and Yap advanced to the Spain Masters final.[18] They fell to Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in three games, finishing as runners-up.[19]

Achievement edit

BWF World Tour (2 runners-up) edit

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,[20] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tours are divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300, and the BWF Tour Super 100.[21]

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Level Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
2022 Orléans Masters Super 100   Muhammad Haikal   Ruben Jille
  Ties van der Lecq
Walkover   Runner-up [9]
2024 Spain Masters Super 300   Yap Roy King   Sabar Karyaman Gutama
  Muhammad Reza Pahlevi Isfahani
18–21, 21–17, 19–21   Runner-up [19]

BWF International Challenge/Series (4 titles, 2 runners-up) edit

Men's doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result Ref
2021 Austrian Open   Muhammad Haikal   Lucas Corvée
  Ronan Labar
21–17, 21–15   Winner [4]
2021 Latvia International   Muhammad Haikal   Muhammad Nurfirdaus Azman
  Yap Roy King
23–21, 15–21, 19–21   Runner-up [7]
2021 Hellas International   Muhammad Haikal   Ondřej Král
  Adam Mendrek
21–16, 21–15   Winner [5]
2021 Ukraine International   Muhammad Haikal   Ishaan Bhatnagar
  K. Sai Pratheek
21–15, 19–21, 21–15   Winner [6]
2021 Scottish Open   Muhammad Haikal   Christopher Grimley
  Matthew Grimley
20–22, 16–21   Runner-up [8]
2023 Nantes International   Yap Roy King   Putra Erwiansyah
  Patra Harapan Rindorindo
21–16, 14–21, 21–12   Winner [16]
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament
  BWF Future Series tournament

References edit

  1. ^ "Player profile: Arif Junaidi". Badminton Association of Malaysia. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Players: Junaidi Arif". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Arif-Haikal on track for greater success". New Straits Times. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Hon Jian-Ee Wei, Wan Arif-Muhammad Haikal clinch Austrian Open titles". Malay Mail. 31 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b Fauzi, Ferzalfie (5 September 2021). "Pemain muda cemerlang di Greece" (in Malay). Harian Metro. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Two M'sian pairs bag third European titles in Ukraine". The Sun. 11 September 2021. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Roy King, Valeree Siow cemerlang di Latvia" (in Malay). Harian Metro. 30 August 2021. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  8. ^ a b Raftery, Alan (29 November 2021). "Grimley twins win big title: "It feels amazing"". Badminton Europe. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  9. ^ a b Anil, Nicolas (3 April 2022). "Haikal tests positive for COVID-19, forced to concede Orleans Masters men's doubles final". Stadium Astro. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  10. ^ Raftery, Alan (4 April 2022). "Family wins in Orleans". Badminton Europe. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  11. ^ Musa, Muzaffar (17 May 2022). "Sukan SEA Hanoi: Skuad badminton lelaki bangkit ke final" (in Malay). Stadium Astro. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  12. ^ "SEA Games: National shuttlers win men's team silver after loss to Thailand". Malay Mail. 19 May 2022. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Only two M'sian reps left in the last four". The Sun. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Roy King relishing new challenge with Arif". The Star. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  15. ^ "'Patatimo Boys' split, Nur Izzuddin confirmed partnering Muhammad Haikal". The Malaysian Reserve. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  16. ^ a b Tan, Ming Wai (18 June 2023). "Roy King-Arif achieve breakthrough win in France". New Straits Times. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  17. ^ Peter, Fabian (9 July 2023). "Double joy for Roy King". New Straits Times. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  18. ^ Peter, Fabian (31 March 2024). "Arif-Roy King close in on maiden World Tour title at Spain Masters". New Straits Times. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  19. ^ a b Peter, Fabian (31 March 2024). "Arif-Roy King settle for second best at Spain Masters". New Straits Times. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  20. ^ Alleyne, Gayle (19 March 2017). "BWF Launches New Events Structure". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  21. ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.

External links edit