Off to Europe: Aaron Chia (right) and Soh Wooi Yik have been training hard and are looking forward to their first competition in Denmark.
PETALING JAYA: There was a minor scare as Soh Wooi Yik took an early break from training but national doubles coach Tan Bin Shen cited exhaustion rather than an injury, which prompted the shuttler to take it easy yesterday.
Bin Shen said Wooi Yik, who partnered Aaron Chia to win Malaysia’s first world title in Tokyo in August, is good to play in the Denmark Open (Oct 18-23) in Odense and the French Open (Oct 25-30) in Paris.
“Wooi Yik was exhausted and felt some pain in his hand but there is no injury or even strain. Maybe he was pushing too hard in training and we allowed him to take a break,” said Bin Shen.
“It’s normal in training as players will feel the strain sometimes. He is fine and will play in the Denmark and French Opens with Aaron.
“They have been training hard for the last few weeks and are looking forward to their first competition in Denmark.
“It is going to be new experience for them but they are mature enough to handle their reputation as world champions.”
Aaron-Wooi Yik, currently ranked world No. 4, will skip the Hylo Open in Saarbrucken, Germany although their place in the World Tour Finals in Guangzhou is not secure yet.
The top Malaysian pair are currently ranked ninth, only the top eight qualify for the Guangzhou finals.
A country is allowed only two slots in each event and currently independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and Badminton Associa-tion of Malaysia (BAM) combination Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are ranked fifth and sixth respectively.
On their Denmark Open outing, Aaron-Wooi Yik’s path looks good at least until the semi-finals and this would give them sufficient points to move up the World Tour rankings.
“They will just focus on the Denmark and French Opens.
“They need time to prepare for the World Tour Finals (upon qualification). So, they will not play at the Hylo Open,” added Bin Shen.
The French Open will be tricky for Aaron-Wooi Yik as they will play Japan Open champions Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang of China but Bin Shen said his charges hold the edge.
The World Tour Finals in December will be a good reason for Aaron-Wooi Yik to put up a grand show in Europe to confirm their ticket to Guangzhou.
After all, the World Tour Finals men’s doubles event will not be complete if the new world champions don’t make the cut.
