PETALING JAYA: One pair are riding a wave of confidence while another are eager to make amends after a slow start to the year.
Expect men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah to raise their game as they pursue contrasting missions in the Indian Open semi-finals today.
Malaysian Open runners-up Aaron-Wooi Yik flexed their muscles by securing a dominant 21-19, 21-14 win over Taiwan’s world No. 15 Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan in 31 minutes at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi yesterday.
The world No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik are looking to reach back-to-back finals in India when they face the winner of the match between Taiwan’s world No. 20 Liu Kuang-heng-Yang Po-han and Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita (No. 22).
The former world champions will be attempting to reach their second final in the event since finishing runners-up to China’s Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang in the 2023 edition.
Can they go one better?
Men’s doubles assistant coach Chang Kim Wai, who is guiding Aaron-Wooi Yik in New Delhi, is certainly hoping so.
“The key today (yesterday) was Aaron-Wooi Yik’s quality at the front court,” said a beaming Kim Wai.
“They were more consistent and made it hard for the Taiwan pair to get points.
“I’m happy with Aaron-Wooi Yik’s performance so far. It will be great if they can reach the final and go on to win the title.”
Pearly-Thinaah, who crashed out in the Malaysian Open second round last week, made a welcome return to form by sweeping aside Taiwan’s world No. 9 Hsieh Pei-shan-Hung En-tzu 21-16, 21-10 in just 33 minutes
Pearly-Thinaah are keen to keep their run going when they take on Japan’s world No. 6 Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto next for a place in the final.
The world No. 2 pair are out for revenge after losing in their last two meetings against Fukushima-Matsumoto in the World Tour Finals group stage and last four last month in Hangzhou.
Pearly-Thinaah still lead the Japanese pair 5-3 in their head-to-head records and will be keen to extend their advantage.
The duo are hoping to make it into their maiden final in the competition.
RESULTS
(Malaysians unless stated)
Quarter-finals
Men’s singles: Jonatan Christie (Ina) bt Christo Popov (Fra) 21-19, 21-19; Loh Kean Yew (Sin) bt Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) 14-21, 21-15, 21-17.
Men’s doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bt Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan (Tpe) 21-19, 21-14.
Women’s singles: Ratchanok Intanon (Tha) bt Zhang Beiwen (US) 21-16, 21-12; Chen Yufei (Chn) bt Han Yue (Chn) 21-8, 21-18; Wang Zhiyi (Chn) bt Natsuki Nidaira (Jpn) 20-22, 21-13, 21-9; An Se-young (Kor) bt Putri Kusuma (Ina) 21-16, 21-8.
Women’s doubles: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bt Hsieh Pei-shan-Hung En-tzu (Tpe) 21-16, 21-10; Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn) bt Li Yijing-Luo Xumin (Chn) 21-14, 21-15; Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) bt Hsu Ya-ching-Sung Yu-hsuan (Tpe) 21-19, 21-9; Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto (Jpn) bt Jeong Na-eun-Lee Yeon-woo (Kor) 21-10, 21-11.
Mixed doubles: Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) bt Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-19, 19-21, 21-18; Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Supissara Paewsampran (Tha) bt Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue (Fra) 21-6, 21-15; Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin (Chn) bt Yuichi Shimogami-Sayaka Hobara (Jpn) 25-23, 21-18.
Second round
Men’s doubles: Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun bt Christo Popov-Toma Junior Popov (Fra) 13-21, 21-12, 21-14.
