PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik carried Malaysia’s biggest hope for a medal in the men's doubles at the World Championships, but their campaign ended in heartbreak after a quarter-final defeat in Paris.
On Wednesday, the 2022 world champions fell 12-21, 19-21 to India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in just 43 minutes at the Adidas Arena.
The world No. 2 pair struggled to find their rhythm early, allowing the Indians to dictate the pace and take the opening game with ease.
In the second, Satwik-Chirag turned on their trademark attacking play, pushing the Malaysians deep to the back court and forcing them onto the defensive.
Aaron-Wooi Yik mounted a spirited fightback from 11-17 down to level at 19-19, but their late comeback was cut short as the Indians held their nerve to close out the match.
The victory also gave Satwik-Chirag sweet revenge at the same venue, having lost to Aaron-Wooi Yik at the same stage of the Olympic Games last year.
It was the Indians' fourth win in 15 meetings again the Malaysians.
With Aaron-Wooi Yik's defeat, Malaysia's challenge is over in the men's doubles. Earlier, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun had gone down fighting to world No. 1 Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae of South Korea.
