Aaron-Wooi Yik keen to end long wait for home title but won’t let pressure affect them

Shaping up nicely: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik training at the Axiata Arena yesterday. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik believe the best is yet to come from them.

Aaron-Wooi Yik are shaping up well for the Paris Olympics in July after consistent displays this year.

The 2022 world champions finished runners-up in the All-England in March and reached the semi-finals in both the Indian Open in January and Asian Championships last month.

Aaron-Wooi Yik also played an important role in the team’s bronze medal win in the Thomas Cup Finals earlier this month.

Although satisfied with their form so far this year, Aaron feels he and Wooi Yik can get even better and are out to do well in the Malaysian Masters which gets underway today at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.

“We have been quite consistent this year and we want to keep this going until the Olympics,” said Aaron.

“We only have a few tournaments left before we go to Paris and of course we want to win.

Wooi Yik said: “We have not reached our peak yet and we want this to be in the Olympics.

“The next few competitions will be a test for us and we need to be strong in our game play and tactics.”

Aaron-Wooi Yik ended their long World Tour competition drought in the Denmark Open last October and have a good chance to win their second title in the Malaysian tourney.

The world No. 4 are the top seeds and favourites to clinch the crown and end the country’s wait for a winner at the lower-tier Malaysian Masters since mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing emerged champions in 2017.

2013 champions Goh V Shem-Lim Kim Wah were the last men’s doubles pair to bag the title in the Masters.

In the higher-tiered Malaysian Open, the last Malaysians to win were V-Shem-Khim Wah in 2014 while Lee Chong Wei last lifted the more prestigious Malaysian Open men’s singles title in 2018.

Aaron is keen to end the long wait but does not want to let the pressure affect him and Wooi Yik.

“There are high chances for us to win the title and we need to play our best to win,” said Aaron.

“There’s pressure on us to deliver as the top seeds but we are used to this.

“We have been seeded in our tournaments before this, so we will approach the tournament as we usually do and focus on our own game.”

Aaron-Wooi Yik will play a qualifier in the first round tomorrow.

The pair will compete in the back-to-back Singapore Open (May 28-June 2) and Indonesian Open (June 4-9) after the home Masters.