Raise your game: Wooi Yik and Aaron were gold medal contenders at the Commonwealth Games but returned with a bronze.
PETALING JAYA: National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky, following the setback in the men’s doubles at the Commonwealth Games, is hoping for a silver lining at the World Championships which begins in Tokyo tomorrow.
Malaysia’s top pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik’s agonising wait for an elusive title continued after subdued performance in Birmingham two weeks ago only presented them with a bronze.
Aaron-Wooi Yik wil not be alone in Tokyo as they will have Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani for company while independent pairs Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi are also competing.
Rexy said the pairs who competed in Birmingham two weeks ago, including women’s doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, have looked positive and he is upbeat of a good result from them.
“Their attitude and spirit have been different since returning from Birmingham. It has shown in training here,” said Rexy from Tokyo.
“The motivation is high and I am looking forward to a better performance not only from Aaron-Wooi Yik but from the others too.
“We could not train (Chiyoda Sports Centre) yesterday and there was delay in checking into our hotel but we had a good training session at the Yoyogi Metropolitan Gymnasium today (yesterday).
“It was a good session as the entire team, including the independents trained together.”
The independent shuttlers are Lee Zii Jia and Liew Daren as well as women’s singles shuttler Soniia Cheah.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) singles shuttlers who have qualified are men’s singles Ng Tze Yong and women’s singles S. Kisona.
Despite Aaron-Wooi Yik’s form, they remain Malaysia’s best bets but faces a tricky third-round clash against Sze Fei-Izzuddin.
The much improved Pearly-Thinaah has a fighting chance to reach the semi-finals if they can maintain their current form next week.
