PETALING JAYA: The patriotism in men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik is burning bright.
The world No. 2 pair are determined to dig deep and deliver a Merdeka gift by smashing their way to the world title for the second time in the City of Light.
The World Championships begins today in Paris, and the 2022 champions are hoping to keep their fight at least until the final, which fittingly falls on Malaysia’s 68th Independence Day.
They had also given a perfect Merdeka gift en route to winning the world title in 2022 in Tokyo, which they won just three days before the big national celebration.
It was special then as it was Malaysia’s first-ever badminton’s world title.
A jovial Aaron is hoping to seal at least a medal although he knows the task is as tall as the Eiffel tower.
“I still remember when Wooi Yik and I won the title in 2022, it was near Merdeka,” said Aaron.
“We hope to do well again and give Malaysia a present. For me, winning a medal will be a good gift for the country.
“The key is to remain calm. We know the standard is very close in doubles, and we have to be on form from the get-go.”
Aaron-Wooi Yik, who train under Indonesian coach Herry Iman Pierngadi, will again be Malaysia’s best bet for a medal but will not be shouldering the burden alone this time.
The duo will be joined by world No. 3 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi (No. 22).
Wei Chong-Kai Wun have shown good improvement while Roy King-Arif will be out to spring a surprise.
Men’s doubles department have delivered 16 out of the 23 medals won by Malaysia in the world meet so far, showing the country’s reliance on the event.
National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky believes that the men’s doubles competition has changed quite a lot since he captured the world title in 1995.
“The changes are positive,” said Rexy, who memorably combined with Ricky Subagja to beat Denmark’s Jan Holst-Christensen-Thomas Lund for the crown in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“Last time, about four to five countries used to dominate men’s doubles.
“Pairs from Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, China and Denmark will always be vying for the titles.
“Now, it’s different. The competition is more open as almost all the pairs have similar playing styles. The rules and points system have also changed.
“There’s also videos of matches easily available and everyone can analyse their opponents.
“During my playing days, the pairs from weak badminton countries feel they had no chance to progress beyond the quarter-finals, so they had no motivation.
“Now, every pair believe they have a chance to win, so this is good for badminton. It makes the competition more interesting,” added Rexy.
In the competition in Paris, only Roy King-Arif will need to start from the first round against Japan’s Kenya Mitsuhashi-Hiroki Okamura today while the others have received first round byes.
Aaron-Wooi Yik will play either Scotland’s Christopher Grimley-Mathew Grimley or Spain’s Daniel Franco-Rodrigo Sanjurjo in the second round.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin will meet the winners of the match between Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Americans Chen Zhi-yi-Presley Smith while Popov brothers Christo and Toma Junior from France likely await Wei Chong-Kai Wun.
