Heartache again for Aaron-Wooi Yik in All-England final

PETALING JAYA: It was disappointment again for men's doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in the All-England final.

The former world champions Aaron-Wooi Yik could not maintain their form and went down 16-21, 16-21 to Indonesia's Fajar Alfian-Rian Aridianto in the title match at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on Sunday (March 18).

The world No. 5 got off to a poor start and were hardly settled while the Indonesians were on fire from get go. The Malaysians did give a better fight in the second game but it was not enough to stop the pumped up Fajar-Rian.

It was Aaron-Wooi Yik's second runners-up finish in the tournament after losing to another Indonesian duo, Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan, in the 2019 final.

Their fourth defeat in eight meetings against Fajar-Rian saw Malaysia's agonising wait for the men's doubles title continues. Malaysia last won the title 17 years ago through Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

Aaron-Wooi Yik have reached seven Open finals to date but have only converted one with a title at the Denmark Open last year.

Naturally, the duo were heartbroken and Aaron admitted that he and Wooi Yik lost to the better pair on the day.

"They controlled the match very well today (yesterday)," said Aaron in a post match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

"Our strategy just did not work. Sometimes you have chances but it's not easy to win."

Wooi Yik said: "In the second game, we tried very hard do better but the Indonesians were consistent throughout."

As for Fajar-Rian, it was joy for the duo, who successfully defended their title which they won last year.

It was also sweet revenge for the pair after they lost to Aaron-Wooi Yik in their last encounter in the semi-final of the 2023 Indian Open.

With the win, Indonesia returned home with two titles from Birmingham. Earlier, Jonatan Christie had beaten teammate Anthony Ginting 21-15, 21-14 for the men's singles title.

FINAL RESULTS

Men's singles: Jonatan Christie (Ina) bt Anthony Ginting (Ina) 21-15, 21-14.

Men's doubles: Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto (Ina) bt Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas) 21-16, 21-16.

Women's singles: Carolina Marin (Spa) bt Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) 26-26, 11-1, ret.

Women's doubles: Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) bt Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (Jpn) 21-19, 11-21, 21-17.

Mixed doubles: Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) bt Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino (Jpn) 21-16, 21-11.