PETALING JAYA: Imagine Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen (pic), Malaysia’s Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie playing in a three-on-three badminton game.
Well, that’s exactly will take place when these world-class players lock horns in an exciting invitational tournament – Bdmntn-XL Invitational starting today in Jakarta that offers a whopping US$1mil (RM4,340,000) for the winning team.
Bdmntn-XL Invitational will feature a mixed team format which includes men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and uniquely, a 3v3 format replacing the traditional mixed doubles. Five teams will compete in round-robin matches, with the top two advancing to the final on Sunday.
Aaron, Wooi Yik and Axelsen will be in different teams and are excited to play in the unique tournament where they can combine and play with foreign players.
“Wooi Yik and I were invited for this tournament and we are excited to play as it’s quite different,” said Aaron.
“It’s good for all the star players to be paired around and have some fun. Wooi Yik and I are not in the same team but this is good preparation for us before we compete in World Tour competitions.”
Axelsen, who has fully recovered from a viral infection which he suffered in the Denmark Open last week, said: “It’s the first time I’m taking part in such an exciting, team-based event in Indonesia.
“I’m looking forward to playing alongside great players from all around the world. We’re going to put on an amazing show.”
Interestingly, newly appointed national women’s doubles coach Rosman Razak will be coaching Aaron and his team members in the tournament.
Aaron is in the same team as fellow Malaysian and Rosman’s former charge Teo Ee Yi, Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu (men’s singles) and Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen (mixed doubles).
The other Malaysians competing are Ee Yi’s men’s doubles partner Ong Yew Sin and national mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei.
Aaron believes more competitions such as this should be organised to increase the badminton’s popularity around the world.
