KUALA LUMPUR: Good times continue to roll in for Malaysia in the men’s doubles department as Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (pic) made it a grand day by reaching the semi-finals of the Indonesia Masters.
Aaron-Wooi Yik and Wei Chong-Kai Wun will take on each other today at the Istora Senayan, Jakarta, thus assuring one place in the final.
Yesterday, second seeds Aaron-Wooi Yik were in dominant form when they outplayed South Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk-Kim Won-ho 21-19, 21-15 in the quarter-finals.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun came through an all-Malaysian quarter-final match by beating younger teammates Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King 21-15, 21-16.
The strong performance by the men’s doubles highlights their consistent form in the new season of the BWF World Tour.
At the Malaysian Open, Wei Chong-Kai Wun reached the semi-finals before losing to China’s Chen Boyang-Liu Yi.
Last week in New Delhi, Aaron-Wooi Yik also reached the semi-finals of the Indian Open, alongside eventual champions Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
Aaron saw the positive progress by not one but a few Malaysian pairs as good and timely, ahead of the arrival of new men’s doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi of Indonesia.
“This is a good sign for the Malaysian men’s doubles ahead of Herry’s tenure starting in February,” said Aaron.
“I hope we can maintain this momentum as Malaysia will also compete in the Asia Mixed Team Championship and Sudirman Cup later this year.”
Based on past encounters, Aaron-Wooi Yik have played Wei Chong-Kai Wun three times, with the former winning twice.
Their most recent meeting was in the second round of the Denmark Open last October, where Aaron-Wooi Yik emerged victorious.
However, the in-form Wei Chong-Kai Wun also have a chance to upset the odds, as they had previously defeated the 2022 world champions in the first round of the Arctic Open in Finland.
Malaysia will also be hoping for good news in the women’s doubles when Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah take on Lee Yeon-woo-Lee Yu-lim of South Korea for a place in the final.
They defeated Malaysian Open champions Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto of Japan 21-16, 21-15 yet again, after also disposing the duo at last week’s Indian Open.
There was, however, a sad end in the mixed doubles as all pairs – Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
