PETALING JAYA: Can Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King end their European tour with another podium finish at the Hylo Open in Saarbrucken this week?
With most of Malaysia’s shuttlers skipping the tournament in Germany, Aaron-Roy King have stayed on for another week and began their campaign in convincing fashion by beating home pair Malik Bourakkadi-Kenneth Neuman 21-11, 21-12 in the first round at the Saarlandhalle on Tuesday.
The newly formed pair, who won the Arctic Open in Vantaa three weeks ago, will face a much tougher task in the second round against Indonesian top seeds Sabar Karyaman-Mohd Reza Pahlevi.
They are also the only Malaysian men’s doubles pair left in the competition after independent duo Chia Wei Jie-Teo Ee Yi were forced to retire against England’s second seeds Ben Lane-Sean Vendy while trailing 14-21, 7-11.
Whatever happens in Saarbrucken, men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has every reason to be on cloud nine after seeing his charges enjoy a strong run throughout the European swing.
“The three tournaments in Europe have been very good for us.
“The players managed to go all the way to the final, and I think that is a very good achievement,” said Herry.
“It has been a good start, especially after the changes we made to the partnerships.
“Most of the pairs have now been reunited, except for Tai and Roy King, who are a new combination.
“I think the results have been good so far, but we still have to look at what needs to be improved, learn from it and work on those areas again when we return to training.”
Herry’s charges have reached the final in each of the previous three European tournaments.
Aaron-Roy King started the run by winning the Arctic Open in Vantaa before senior pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik finished runners-up at the Denmark Open in Odense a week later.
Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun then kept the momentum going by capturing the French Open title last week.
Besides Aaron-Roy King, Malaysia’s sole women’s doubles representatives Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee also advanced to the second round after beating England’s Abbygael Harris-Estelle Van Leeuwen 21-12, 21-17.
They will next face Hong Kong’s eighth seeds Yeung Nga Ting-Yeung Pui Lam for a place in the quarter-finals.
