PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian men’s doubles pairs will have different objectives in the Asian Championships which starts today in Ningbo, China.
National No. 1 and world No. 5 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are out to do well in the tournament to help them break into the world’s top four to get a seeding for the Paris Olympics in July.
Aaron-Wooi Yik will be Malaysia’s sole representatives in the men’s doubles in the Olympics and a seeding will give them an easier pathway to the latter stages.
The Asian meet offers the pair a good opportunity to boost their ranking as it is equivalent to a World Tour Super 1000 level event.
On a mission: Aaron Chia (top) and Soh Wooi Yik eyeing for a good seeding at the Paris Olympics.
Aaron-Wooi Yik are also keen to continue their good form after finishing runners-up in the All-England in Birmingham last month.
“The Asian meet is a big tournament and we want to do well to boost our ranking,” said Wooi Yik.
“We want to get a seeding in the Olympics which will give us an easier draw.”
The duo should have no problems getting past their first hurdle in Ningbo against a qualifier before a meeting with either Taiwan’s Lee Fang-chih-Lee Fang-jen or Japan’s Kenya Mitsuhashi-Hiroki Okamura in the second round.
Meanwhile, world No. 12 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (No. 18) and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (No. 19) are out to give themselves a boost ahead of the Thomas Cup Finals from May 27-April 5 in Chengdu.
All three pairs have missed out on a spot in the Olympics and are now hoping to be selected for the prestigious team meet.
Independent duo Yew Sin-Ee Yi will open their campaign against Japan’s Ayato Endo-Yuta Takei while Wei Chong-Kai Wun will play homesters Chen Boyang-Liu Yi in the first round.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin have a tough opener against South Korea’s reigning world champions Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae.
In the men’s singles, professional player Lee Zii Jia is the sole Malaysian representative in the event in the tournament and is set to take on India’s Priyanshu Rajawat in the first round.
A victory will see the world No. 11 Zii Jia taking on either China’s Weng Hongyang or Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen next.
In the women’s singles, Goh Jin Wei faces an uphill battle right from the start against India’s 2019 world champions P. V. Sindhu.
In the women’s doubles, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have a difficult opener against Japan’s former two-time world title winners Mayu Matsumoto-Wakana Nagahara while independent pair Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien will go up against South Korea’s Jeong Na-eun-Kim Hye-jeong.
In the mixed doubles, Malaysia will be represented by Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and youngsters Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow.
