PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttler Soh Wooi Yik remains doubtful for next week’s Japan Masters as he continues to struggle with an injury to his right heel.
National men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi said the injury was one of the reasons Wooi Yik and partner Aaron Chia withdrew from this week’s Korean Open, allowing the 28-year-old more time to recover.
The coaching team will monitor Wooi Yik closely over the next four to five days before deciding whether he and Aaron are fit to travel to Kumamoto this weekend for the Japan Masters, which starts on Tuesday (Nov 3).
“Wooi Yik is still carrying a foot injury, which is why both of them are not playing in Korea this week. He has already rested for two weeks since their last tournament in Europe and we will continue to monitor his condition.
“For now, their names are still on the entry list for the Japan Masters,” said Herry when met at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara on Tuesday (Nov 3).
Wooi Yik picked up the heel injury during the French Open quarter-finals two weeks ago.
Aaron-Wooi Yik had initially been drawn to face independent pair Chia Wei Jie-Teo Ee Yi in the first round of the Korean Open, which began in Yeosu City on Monday (Nov 2).
Should they miss next week’s Japan Masters, it could also hurt Aaron-Wooi Yik’s chances of qualifying for the season-ending World Tour Finals in Hangzhou from Dec 9-13.
In the latest World Tour Finals rankings updated by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Tuesday (Nov 3), Aaron-Wooi Yik slipped one spot to sixth with 65,740 points.
Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard are just behind them with 65,610 points, followed by Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman-Moh Reza on 65,550, while China’s Chen Boyang-Liu Yi are ninth with 64,200.
Only the top eight pairs in the World Tour Finals rankings will qualify for the season-ending tournament.
