The ones to beat: Aaron Chia (right) and Soh Wooi Yik are the top seeds in the German Open. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: World champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have set themselves a new target in Europe.
Rather than being troubled by the pressure of winning titles in three tournaments beginning with the German Open starting today in Mulheim, the world champions just want to heed their coach Rexy Mainaky’s advice. And that is to maintain their physical and mental consistency.
“Our main focus is to keep improving our physical and mental strengths and also produce consistent results. These aspects are very important as we have to play in a lot of tournaments beginning in May,” said Aaron.
By taking this approach, said Aaron, they will not be bogged down by the pressure of trying to win a title.
Aaron-Wooi Yik are the top seeds in the German Open while Japan’s former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi are the second seeds.
“This doesn’t mean we don’t have targets to achieve in tournaments. The German Open will be our preparation for the All-England,” said Aaron.
“For a start, we want to try and reach the semi-finals. We will do our best in Germany.
“Men’s doubles is very competitive and a pair that wins a tournament may not necessarily win the next event. We need to pick the tournament to do well while producing consistent results overall.
“Of course, we will not forget about the goal to try and win our first tour title.”
Aaron-Wooi Yik are expected to play qualifiers Due Yue-Xia Yuting of China in the first round.
Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) second pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun play Japan’s Akira Koga-Taichi Saito in their opening match.
Independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi play Taiwan’s Lee Fang-chih-Lee Yang while another professional pair Tan Kian Meng-Tan Wee Kiong will meet Scotland’s Adam Hall-Alexander Dunn in their opening round matches.
Rexy will also be hoping to see Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah rediscover their form that helped them win the French Open last October.
However, Pearly-Thinaah’s plight will receive a severe test in the quarter-finals where they are expected to meet world champions Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara of Japan.
In the men’s singles, top seed Lee Zi Jia will be hoping to resurrect his career which has been on the downslide.
Zii Jia is due to play a qualifier in the first round and is likely to meet Anders Antonsen, who himself is trying to re-establish his career after returning from a long layoff due to injury several months ago, in the second round.
Zii Jia’s part-time coach Liew Daren will go up against Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan in the first round while another independent player Cheam June Wei also plays a Japanese player Kenta Nishimoto.
