PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are slowly but surely regaining their consistency and it showed again in another steady performance at the Indonesian Open in Jakarta yesterday.
Indonesian pairs have often been Aaron-Wooi Yik’s banana skin on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) tour but they confidently negotiated a 21-16, 21-12 win over former All-England champions Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana in a 33-minute opening-round clash.
Aaron-Wooi Yik had also overcame Shohibul-Bagas in the second round last week and yesterday’s win was even more comprehensive.
They had also beaten another strong Indonesian pair, Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin, in the quarter-finals in Singapore and overcame the same pair at the Asian Championships in April.
National men’s doubles coach Tan Bin Shen said Aaron-Wooi Yik have shown much improvement but they need to be on their toes as competition is very keen in the men’s doubles.
“So far, their (Aaron-Wooi Yik’s) performance is alright. But they need to keep reminding themselves to give their 100% focus on court,” said Bin Shen.
“The men’s doubles is quite open now. I think no matter who we meet, just make sure our mental and physical strengths are up there when we are on court.”
They have started looking like the pair that won the world title in Japan last year although they still have several Chinese pairs to conquer, like the current world No. 2 Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang and world No. 5 Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi.
A possible clash against Yuchen-Xuanyi is on the cards if both pairs reach the last eight but Aaron-Wooi Yik have been taking it one match at a time.
Independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi will also need to raise their performance in the second round after struggling against Indian pair M.R. Arjun-Dhruv Kapila in their opening match on Tuesday.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi will have their hands full against homesters Leo-Daniel in the second round today and a win will be a boost for the Malaysian world No. 8.
Leo-Daniel have won the Indonesia Masters in January at the Istora Senayan Stadium and they will be looking forward to another successful run this week.
