Capable of more success : Aaron and Wooi Yik have not managed to consistently bring their best form to the World Tour and have only won the 2023 Denmark Open and 2024 Korean Masters titles so far.
PETALING JAYA: One is not enough.
And with an intent on making former men’s doubles world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik multiple title winners this year, coach Herry Iman Pierngadi is ready to guide his charges to another success at the Thailand Open starting in Bangkok today.
Herry, who replaced Tan Bin Shen in February, won plaudits after guiding Aaron-Wooi Yik to the Asian Championships crown last month.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, however, have not managed to consistently bring their best form to the World Tour and have only won the 2023 Denmark Open and 2024 Korean Masters titles so far.
The world No. 5 pair did well to win the world title in 2022 and two bronze medals in the Olympics (2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris).
Herry is keen to change their lack of titles in the World Tour.
“I want to help Aaron-Wooi Yik improve their record in the World Tour as they are one of Malaysia’s best men’s pairs,” said Herry.
“They have been following my training programme well since I started coaching them. There are a few aspects though that they can still improve on like Wooi Yik’s power from the back court.”
In Thailand, second seed Aaron-Wooi Yik will play French pair Julien Maio-William Villeger in the opening round.
A victory could see the Malaysians take on Japan’s tricky duo Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita next for a place in the last eight.
Meanwhile, the other Malaysian men’s pairs in the fray will be Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub, Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian, Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong, Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing and qualifiers Chia Weijie-Lwi Shenghao.
The top seeds are Indonesia’s world No. 4 Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto.
In the women’s doubles, world No. 4 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will be the country’s best hope and will open their campaign against Japan’s Hina Osawa-Akari Sato.
Pearly-Thinaah will be joined in the competition by Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing and youngsters Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting.
Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien and Roy King-Valeree Siow will be Malaysia’s mixed doubles representatives.
