On to the next mission: Aaron Chia (back) and Soh Wooi Yik have yet to win a World Tour title and they will get another shot when competing in the Swiss Open in Basel starting today. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik need to think on their feet and make quick decisions on court to turn around their fortunes.
Aaron-Wooi Yik’s form have not been up to scratch since winning the world title in Tokyo last year and Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) high performance director Dr Tim Jones is working closely with coaches and sport science staff to help the pair bounce back.
Jones said that Aaron-Wooi Yik have shown their pedigree by winning a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and also the world title last year but they need to keep progressing as their rivals are well aware of their tactics.
He added that national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky has come up with a fine plan and tailor-made training programme to make the duo comfortable in handling pressure cooker situations.
Aaron-Wooi Yik lost to Akira Koga-Taichi Saito of Japan in the German Open second round two weeks ago and went down to Indonesians Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin in the All-England first round.
“We have been consistently analysing their performance. What they need is to be thinking on their feet and make quick decision to vary their performance,” said Jones.
“These ability to make quick decisions must be achieved within a game and not to concede 10 or 11 points before making the adjustments.
“When things are not going their way, Aaron-Wooi Yik should be able to vary their gameplan and make changes on the go.
“By winning the Olympic bronze and the world title, they have shown their ability but their opponents have started analysing their performance to counter them.
“Training by Rexy has been planned in a way that they are being taught to be comfortable when they are under pressure during matches.
“Mental training is also part of the plan to help them bounce back.”
Since becoming Malaysia’s first world champions in Tokyo, Aaron Wooi-Yik managed to reach the Denmark Open semi-finals last year and the India Open final in January.
They have yet to win a World Tour title and they will probably get another shot when competing in the Swiss Open in Basel starting today.
The top seeds Aaron-Wooi Yik should win their first round match against home qualifiers Arthur Boudier-Minh Quang Pham but are expected to face a tough match likely against Koga-Saito in the second round.
A victory will see them facing another tough hurdle in Ren Xiangyu-Tan Qiang of China in the last eight.
Independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi should have no problems overcoming Scotland’s Alexander Dunn-Adam Hall but face a tougher second round match against Indonesians Pramudya Kusuma–wardana-Yeremia Rambitan.
They did well last week to beat Olympic Games champions Lee Yang-Wang Chih-lin of Taiwan in the All-England first round before going down to last year’s champions Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana of Indonesia.
In the mixed doubles, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei are expected to have tough second round battle against top seeds Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai of Thailand while Hoo Pang Ron-Teoh Mei Xing will have a tricky first round match against seasoned Germans Mark Lamsfuss-Isabel Lohau.
The other Malaysian representatives are independent pairs Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Chan Peng Soon-Cheah Yee See.
