PETALING JAYA: A blockbuster showdown awaits in the All-England men’s doubles final as Malaysia’s Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik take on the world's most dominant pair, Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae of South Korea.
On Saturday (March 7), world No. 1 and reigning world champions Won-ho-Seung-jae showed their class when they defeated Indonesia’s Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin 21-19, 21-13 in a 48-minute semi-final match in Birmingham.
The young Indonesian pair, playing in their first All-England, showed plenty of fight but eventually lost out to the Koreans’ experience.
Earlier, Aaron-Wooi Yik have beaten Chen Boyang-Liu Yi of China 21-11, 21-19 in another semi-final match-up.
The final on Sunday (March 8) appears to favour the Koreans, who have enjoyed the upper hand in their previous meetings against Aaron-Wooi Yik, having won two out of their meetings.
Their last duel was close as the Koreans defeated Aaron-Wooi Yik in the Malaysian Open final in January this year.
But can the Malaysians rip up the formbook?
Aaron-Wooi Yik will be banking on the guidance of coach Herry Iman Pierngadi and their burning desire to bring home the All-England crown - a title Malaysia last won 19 years ago.
Back in 2007, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, under the charge of Rexy Mainaky, pulled off a sensational victory by upsetting top seeds Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China.
RESULTS
SEMI-FINALS
Men's singles: Lin Chun-yi (Tpe) bt Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) 21-14, 18-21, 21-16; Lakshya Sen (Ind) bt Victor Lai (Can) 21-16, 18-21, 21-15.
Men's doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas) bt Chen Boyang-Liu Yi (Chn) 21-11, 21-19; Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae (Kor) bt Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin (Ina) 21-19, 21-13.
Women's singles: An Se-young (Kor) bt Chen Yufei (Chn) 20-22, 21-9, 21-12; Wang Zhiyi (Chn) bt Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) 21-15, 21-19.
Women's doubles: Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) bt Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (Mas) 21-17, 21-18; Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn) bt Jia Yifan-Zhang Shuxian (Chn) 18-21, 21-17, 22-20.
Mixed doubles: Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue (Fra) bt Guo Xinwa-Chen Fang-hui (Chn) 11-21, 21-18, 21-12; Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Chan (Tpe) bt Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet (Hkg) 16-21, 21-15, 21-13.
