PETALING JAYA: Winning the Arctic Open may have put Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King in the spotlight, but men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi wants the new pair to know that the harder part starts now.
That test could come as early as this week’s Denmark Open, where the Super 750 tournament features many of the world’s best pairs.
Aaron-Roy King made an immediate impact by winning the Arctic Open last week, beating Taiwan’s Lai Po-yu-Tsai Fu-cheng 21-19, 21-19 in the final at the Energia Arena in Vantaa on Sunday.
It was their first title in their first international tournament together.
There will be little time for them to savour that success, however, as Aaron-Roy King are scheduled to face South Korea’s world No. 11 Kang Min-hyuk-Lee Jong-min in the first round of the Denmark Open.
If they clear the opening hurdle, they could meet either senior compatriots Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik or Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi, with both pairs having previously won the world title.
Herry was pleased with what the pair showed in Finland but said the real test would come when they start facing the world’s top pairs.
“When I said there was a pair with very good potential, I was referring to Aaron Tai and Roy King. They proved it at the Arctic Open.
“I had a strong feeling that they could win the Arctic Open and the result did not really surprise me because of the talent and quality they have.
“But this is only the beginning and they need to face pairs in the world’s top 10 if they want to continue improving,” said Herry.
Besides Aaron-Roy King and Aaron-Wooi Yik, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will also be in action in Odense this week, opening their men’s doubles campaign against fellow Malaysians Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong.
Chia Weijie-Teo Ee Yi will face Taiwan’s Chen Zhi-ray-Lin Yu-chieh, while Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who have also been reunited after being split up previously, will take on home pair Christian Kjaer-Rasmus Kjaer in the first round.
The last Malaysian men’s doubles pair to win the Denmark Open were Aaron-Wooi Yik three years ago, when they defeated Indonesia’s Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana in the final.
