Soh wonderful – that’s the way you make me feel, Aaron-Wooi Yik

THE phone would not stop buzzing yesterday – the calls were coming in by the dozens, many with messages of congratulations.

I had done nothing! It was all down to the success of Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik who dumped three-time world champions Hendra Setiawan-Mohammed Ahsan of Indonesia to become the first-ever Malaysian badminton players to win a world title.

It was historic. It was special. At last, Malaysia have done it.

Finally, the stories of heartbreak had come to an end. The pair are no longer “the nearly men” like so many other Malaysian shuttlers.

I was there in Paris when Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong went down fighting in the final. It was heartbreaking. Then there was the crushing defeat for Lee Chong Wei, not in one final but in three.

In Denmark, Chong Wei lost in the final but was stripped of even that silver due to a doping offence.

It’s hard to speak to a player who has lost despite giving heart and soul to a match. I have seen Chong Wei’s tears many times.

After 25 years of writing on sports, mainly badminton, seeing our players finally win on that stage is priceless.

Aaron-Wooi Yik have a lot to be proud about. They overcame a barrage of criticism to stand tall yesterday. They conquered their nerves and smashed down all the negative talk targeted their way.

At the Thomas Cup Finals this year, they were even separated as a pair for some reason and Aaron paired with Teo Ee Yi in the matches against Japan and India.

The pair came together again after that but lost in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

However, there was no stumbling at a crucial stage this time. They were calm, cool and did not waver in their focus, despite trailing 12-18 in the opener.

The world title, in fact, is their first major title – and even the players could not believe that they had done it, going by their muted celebration.

Wooi Yik started to cry – all those pent-up frustrations came crashing out. He had gone one better than his uncle Soo Beng Kiang, who was also a losing finalist with Cheah Soon Kit before.

I had sent a text message on the eve of the competition to Aaron and Wooi Yik and both responded, asking me to pray for their victories.

They are humble to the core, another hallmark of true champions.

Then there is coach Rexy Mainaky. He too responded by saying: “Pray for the boys”.

He always had faith in his players – he knew they could make it, and all they had to do was focus and believe in themselves.

And yesterday, the prayers were answered.

Rexy together with Tan Bin Shen, hugged the players – Rexy must have been so proud of them. He was once a world champion and has now turned his players into winners on the biggest stage.

But Rexy’s job is not over, and neither is Aaron-Wooi Yik’s.

They have many more good years ahead of them – now is the time to build on the win, eye more titles regularly, and there is that elusive Olympic Games gold to go after.

Tokyo has indeed been special for Aaron-Wooi Yik. It was there that they won the Olympic Games bronze at the same venue last year, and now they are on the top of the world.

Don’t be surprised if they are invited to be the special guests at the Merdeka Day parade this Wednesday if they choose to skip this week’s Japan Open.

It will be a fitting honour for our Malaysian heroes. And a perfect gift for the country’s 65th national day and my 25th anniversary with the Star.

Kudos Aaron-Wooi Yik. And to the fans who made it all possible.