Time is on Wooi Yik’s side to catch up with uncle Beng Kiang

When three’s not a crowd: (From left) Soh Wooi Liang, Soo Beng Kiang and Soh Wooi Yik. Wooi Liang is Wooi Yik’s brother and Beng Kiang is their uncle.

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Soh Wooi Yik is one of the most improved doubles players in the national team this year but he admits that he still has some catching up to do - to become as successful as his uncle and former great Soo Beng Kiang.

The 21-year-old Wooi Yik and his partner Aaron Chia have declared that this is their best playing year after winning the doubles gold medal at the Philippines SEA Games in Manila on Monday and reaching the final of the All-England in March.

They’ve ended the year as the world’s No. 12 and are in the running to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Wooi Yik believes, in time, he would catch up with the 51-year-old Beng Kiang, who is his mother’s brother.

Beng Kiang played with Cheah Soon Kiat in the men’s doubles and they were the members of the team that won the 1992 Thomas Cup Finals in Kuala Lumpur. The duo were also World Championships silver medallists at the 1993 edition in Birmingham.

“This is my best year with Aaron although there have been ups and downs. We’ve improved so much but I’m still far from what my uncle Beng Kiang has achieved, ” said Wooi Yik.

“Beng Kiang is a great player at the front court and has achieved many good results for the country but my uncle joked that I’ve a better result than him in the All-England... he has never reached the final.

“He always sends me text messages to either congratulate or motivate.

“Sometimes, he watches my matches. He will then share some pointers and advises me. I value that, ” said Wooi Yik, whose father Soh Goon Chup was a coach at the BAM academy in the mid 1990s.

Wooi Yik’s ultimate goal is to play in the Tokyo Olympics next year with the 22-year-old Aaron.

“This year, the most disappointing outing is the World Championships (in Basel, Switzerland), we lost in the first round, ” said Wooi Yik, who reached the world meet quarter-finals in his debut with Aaron last year.

It’s their second early defeat in a world-level tournament. The duo qualified as one of the eight pairs for the season finale at the ongoing World Tour Finals in Guangzhou, China, but finished third in the group and failed to reach the semi-finals.

“We need to improve our strength and have the right mindset when we are stuck in a difficult situation on court, ” said Wooi Yik.

Wooi Yik will take a well-deserved break before returning for his first competition - Malaysian Masters at the Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil from Jan 7-12.

“It has been a hectic year. I will try to relax at a beach or travel somewhere for a holiday. Then, Aaron and I will come back refreshed for the new year, ” added Wooi Yik, who hopes to break into the world’s top 10 next year.