PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik weren’t so hot in the Asian Games, bowing out in the semi-finals.
Now, it’s about to get really cold for them as they move to freezing Vantaa in search of a first world tour title at the Arctic Open from today.
Winter is around the corner in Finland but Aaron-Wooi Yik have to be ready to bounce back.
The India pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty will again be in their way. The Indians defeated the Malaysians in the semi-finals in Hangzhou and went to win their country’s first gold medal on Saturday.
Satwiksairaj-Chirag also stopped the Malaysians from winning their first Badminton World Federation (BWF) tour title at the Indonesia Open when they secured their first win over Aaron-Wooi Yik in their 10th meeting.
Although the Malaysian duo fell short of their objective to secure gold in Hangzhou, they can be content that they have another major medal.
After starting with a bronze in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the pair clinched the world title at the same venue a year later and two months ago, earned their second medal, this time a bronze, at the Copenhagen World Championships.
Aaron-Wooi Yik also made the final of the China Open two weeks before the Asian Games last month but lost to home pair Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang.
In Finland, the Malaysians start with a tricky first-round tie against compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, a clash in which national director of coaching Rexy Mainaky says both pairs have goals to achieve.
“Aaron-Wooi Yik must fight to give their best and try to maintain their level as they are the senior pair,’’ said Rexy.
“Wei Chong-Kai Wun, on the other hand, need to prove that they have closed the gap with Aaron-Wooi Yik and can challenge them.”
Aaron-Wooi Yik must also overcome the likes of Indonesians Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan and Taiwan pair Lu Ching-yao-Yang Po-han en route to the final.
Independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi could set up a semi-final clash with Aaron-Wooi Yik if they can overcome the dangerous Ching-yao-Po-han in the last eight.
Meanwhile, Kaohsiung Masters champions Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will face a stern test against Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin of Taiwan in the second round. Sze Fei-Izzuddin will face Lucas Corvee-Ronan Labar in the first round.
In the women’s doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah’s path looks clear until the final in the absence of top China and South Korean pairs.
However, much will depend on the fragile Pearly who has been regularly breaking down due to injuries and her fitness level after the Asiad will determine the pair’s chances of winning their first title this year.
They have a good record against top seeds Mayu Matsutomo-Wakana Nagahara and could meet the Japanese pair in the final but Pearly’s condition is expected to determine their fate in Vantaa.
In the mixed doubles, Asiad quarter-finalists Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei will be hoping for another good outing at the Arctic Open to try to break into the top eight.
They open their campaign against experienced English pair Marcus Ellis-Lauren Smith and could meet top Thai pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the last eight.
The men’s singles will see Lee Zii Jia trying to carry on the momentum he built in Hangzhou when he defeated Angus Ng Ka Long and world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand to reach the last eight.
Zii Jia, who lost to H.S. Prannoy of India in the last eight, will play a qualifier in the Arctic Open, but could meet Chico Aura of Indonesia in the second round before another test against world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the last eight.
