No way through: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik fell to England’s Sean Vendy-Ben Lane (below) in the first round of the Hong Kong Open. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: Whether it was a lingering jinx against England’s Ben Lane-Sean Vendy or simply another factor behind their under-par performance in the first round of the Hong Kong Open yesterday, only Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik know the answer.
The top seeds in the men’s doubles event were sent packing after a tame 13-21, 13-21 defeat to Lane-Vendy in just 28 minutes.
This was not the first time Aaron-Wooi Yik had fallen to the world No. 15 pair. Of their seven previous meetings, the Malaysians won five, while Lane-Vendy’s two victories came in the semi-finals of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the second round of the Arctic Open last year.
Even so, yesterday’s loss was still regarded as a shock, as the Hong Kong Open had been seen as the perfect stage for Aaron-Wooi Yik to bounce back after their disappointing outing at the World Championships in Paris two weeks ago.
England's Sean Vendy and Ben Lane return the shuttlecock to Malaysia's Wei Chong Man and Kai Wub Tee during the men's double match at the Badminton BWF World Championships at the Adidas Arena in Paris, on August 28, 2025. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)
England coach Tan Kian Meng, a former Malaysian mixed doubles shuttler, revealed that he did not employ any extraordinary game plan for Lane-Vendy in this match.
Instead, he felt that Aaron-Wooi Yik simply did not play to their true level.
“I feel Aaron and Wooi Yik did not perform very well in today’s match. I didn’t really give Lane-Vendy any specific game plan, only a little bit, which I can’t reveal.
“Maybe Aaron-Wooi Yik have not fully recovered from the World Championships, and that affected their performance. I believe they will do better at the China Masters,” said Kian Meng when contacted.
Although Aaron-Wooi Yik’s campaign has ended, Malaysia can still count on Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who overcame compatriots Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong in the first round yesterday.
Fifth seeds Wei Chong-Kai Wun secured a 21-19, 21-12 victory and will next face Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan in the second round.
The Taiwanese duo had earlier ousted another Malaysian pair, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, 22-24, 22-20, 21-17.
