PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles pair Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing are closing in on their senior teammates in the world rankings after continuing their giant-killing run at the Swiss Open.
Aaron-Khai Xing, who are currently competing in Basel, climbed six spots in the latest world rankings to No. 27.
The rise makes them the sixth highest ranked Malaysian pair at the moment and they have already overtaken several senior combinations including Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri (No. 30), Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin (No. 32) and Fazriq Razif-Bryan Jeremy Goonting (No. 93).
Adding to the sweet news, the pair celebrated the milestone by pulling off a stunning upset against Indonesia’s Rian Ardianto-Rahmat Hidayat 21-16, 29-27 in the Swiss Open first round on Tuesday.
The victory extended their impressive run following a memorable debut at the All-England last week, where they stunned Asian Games champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty of India in the opening round.
National men’s doubles coach Chang Kim Wai said the key to Aaron-Khai Xing’s win over Rian-Rahmat was their discipline in sticking to the strategy prepared before the match.
“I have taken them to several tournaments before so I know the strengths and weaknesses of this pair. Before the match started we did some video analysis and I shared a few ideas with them,” said Kim Wai when contacted.
Kim Wai will adopt the same approach when Aaron-Khai Xing face another Indonesian pair, third seeds Leo Rolly Carnando-Bagas Maulana, in the second round.
“I will take the same approach before the match and hopefully it can help them in that game,” he added.
Also advancing to the second round were veteran pair Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong after they defeated the United States duo Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith 21-15, 21-14.
Azriyn-Wee Kiong will next face either Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul or Germany’s Bjarne Geiss-Jones Raffy Jansen.
