PETALING JAYA: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are out to turn the tables on Japan’s Akira Koga-Taichi Saito in the men’s doubles second round at the Swiss Open in Basel today.
National pair and world No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik had suffered a shock 13-21, 18-21 defeat to world No. 25 Koga-Saito in the same round of the recent German Open in Mulheim.
Aaron-Wooi Yik will go all out to ensure that they don’t crumble again.
Doubles coach Hoon Thien How has called on Aaron-Wooi Yik to raise their game to avenge their loss to Koga-Saito.
“Aaron-Wooi Yik need a better game plan and have to keep their focus to beat the Japanese pair this time.
“They also need to have the determination and hunger to win,” said Thien How.
Aaron-Wooi Yik had breezed past unheralded homesters Arthur Boudier-Pham Minh Quang 21-10, 21-10 in their opening match on Tuesday.
Independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi also joined Aaron-Wooi Yik in the second round after beating Scotland’s Alexander Dunn-Adam Hall 22-20, 21-13.
World No. 8 Yew Sin-Ee Yi will likely face Indonesia’s world No. 20 Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan for a place in the last eight.
Meanwhile, it was heartbreak for women’s doubles pair and 2021 winners Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who were stunned 15-21, 21-14, 16-21 by Taiwan’s world No. 26 Lee Chia-hsin-Teng Chun-hsun.
Pearly looked to have injured her right ankle during the match but Thien How insisted that it was not the reason for the shock defeat.
“Pearly did pick up a slight injury but it’s not serious and not the main reason for their loss,” said Thien How.
“Pearly and Thinaah’s attacking game didn’t work today (Tuesday) and they were also not steady in their defence.
“Their counter-attack was also not effective and Pearly made too many errors.
“They need to improve on their combination play.”
There were better fortunes for independent pair Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien, who beat Annie Xu-Kerry Xu of the United States 21-18, 21-18.
World No. 20 Vivian-Chiew Sien are likely to face a tough task next against South Korea’s world No. 15 Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee.
In the men’s singles, independent player Soong Joo Ven beat two qualifiers to reach the first round.
Joo Ven will take on Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) Ng Tze Yong for a place in the second round.
In the women’s singles, S. Kisona also reached the tournament proper after overcoming Yaelle Hoyaux 21-13, 21-17 in the qualifying round.
World No. 48 Kisona will play Scotland’s world No. 22 Kirsty Gilmour in the first round.
