Steady rise: Aaron Chia (right) and Soh Wooi Yik beat compatriots Boon Xin Yuan-Wong Tien Ci 21-14, 21-9 to move into the second round of the Indonesian Masters. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: Set a higher goal and continue to work hard.
This is the advice given by national men’s doubles coach Tan Bin Shen to Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik after the pair reached a career-high No. 2 in the world ranking.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, who created history last August by becoming the first Malaysians to become world champions, reached another milestone by going up one rung from No. 3 to No. 2 after finishing runners-up in the recent Indian Open.
Now, the pair are only behind Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto.
Bin Shen has called on Aaron-Wooi Yik to continue improving in order to end their long World Tour title drought.
Despite capturing the world title and winning bronze in the Tokyo Olympics, Aaron-Wooi Yik have yet to taste success in World Tour events.
“They can become No. 1 once they get good results,” said Bin Shen.
Yesterday, Aaron-Wooi Yik easily swept aside independent pair Boon Xin Yuan-Wong Tien Ci 21-14, 21-9 to move into the second round of the Indonesian Masters in Jakarta.
Standing in their way to the quarter-finals today are the pair that denied them the Indian Open title – China’s Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang.
Weikeng-Wang Chang edged Germany’s world No. 16 Mark Lamsfuss-Marvin Seidel 21-18, 22-20 to reach the second round.
The Chinese pair will not be short of confidence after rising from No. 11 to No. 7 in the world following their triumph in New Delhi.
Weikeng-Wang Chang who were only paired up last May had also finished runners-up to Fajar-Rian in the Malaysian Open and captured the Japan Open title last September.
Weikeng-Wang Chang hold the advantage over Aaron-Wooi Yik as they are unbeaten against the latter in three meetings including the final in India.
The Malaysians will need to learn their lessons from their narrow 21-14, 19-21, 18-21 defeat in order to turn the tables on the Chinese this time.
Meanwhile, in women’s doubles, world No. 6 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will take on independent pair and world No. 18 Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien in an all-Malaysian second round clash.
RESULTS
Malaysians only
First round
Men’s singles: Ng Tze Yong bt Hans-Kristian Vittinghus (Den) 21-7, 21-14.
Men’s doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bt Boon Xin Yuan-Wong Tien Ci 21-14, 21-9.
Mixed doubles: Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie bt Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje 21-6, 23-21.
