PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik kept the Malaysian flag flying in the French Open by reaching the semi-finals.
On a day when all other Malaysians fell, Aaron-Wooi Yik showed their battling qualities to overcome Indonesia's Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza 21-19, 16-21, 21-19 at the Glaz Arena in Cesson Sevigne on Friday (Oct 24).
Aaron-Wooi Yik stayed composed in a closely fought match to come out on top in 64 minutes to gain sweet revenge over the world No. 11 Indonesians after losing to them in their only meeting before this in the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou last December.
Aaron-Wooi Yik credited their composure during the crucial stages of the match for the win.
"Sticking to our strategy during the crucial moments was very important, regardless of whether we were behind or leading," Aaron told the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Wooi Yik said: "Physically, we are not in our best condition but mentally, we have prepared well."
The world No. 2 pair will take on another Indonesian duo Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri on Saturday (Oct 25) for a place in the final.
Fajar-Shohibul prevented an all-Malaysian last four match by beating Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi 21-14, 24-22.
Meanwhile, it was heartbreak for Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and women's doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin narrowly went down 14-21, 21-17, 23-25 to Denmark's Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen while Wei Chong-Kai Wun suffered a 21-18, 14-21, 10-21 defeat at the hands of South Korea's reigning world champions Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho.
Pearly-Thinaah found China's Paris Olympic champions Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan tough to handle and lost out 16-21, 16-21.
