Winning recognition: Aaron Chia (right) and Soh Wooi Yik are set to meet home pair Ki Dong-ju-Kim Jaeh-wan in the first round. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will begin their campaign in the Korean Open with a spring in their step.
The national men’s doubles pair were crowned the National Sportsman of the Year for 2022 during the National Sports Awards ceremony in Subang Jaya on Monday.
Aaron-Wooi Yik were recognised for their historic world title success in Tokyo last August. It was another feather in the cap for the pair after they had been awarded the best men’s team of the year for 2021 last year following their bronze medal feat at the 2020 Olympics also in Tokyo.
Wooi Yik was happy to be recognised along with Aaron and vowed to continue producing good results, including ending their wait for an Open title in the world badminton circuit.
“We really appreciate this award,” said Aaron.
“This means so much to us and is a motivation for us for the Korean Open.
We will keep working hard to achieve good results for our country.”
Aaron-Wooi Yik, who are currently ranked fourth in the world have found some of their best form lately after an inconsistent start to the year.
The pair reached the semi-finals of the Singapore Open and finished runners-up in the Indonesian Open last month.
In the Korean Open in Yeosu, Aaron-Wooi Yik are set to begin their campaign in the first round today against home qualifiers Ki Dong-ju-Kim Jaeh-wan.
A win will see them face Japan’s Keiichiro Matsui-Yoshinori Takeuchi in the second round.
Aaron-Wooi Yik are preparing for a hectic schedule as they will compete in the Japan Open (July 25-30) and Australian Open (Aug 1-6) after the Korean tourney.
The duo are also out to defend their world title from Aug 21-27 in Copenhagen.
Among the other notable Malaysian men’s doubles pairs in the fray tomorrow are Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and newly crowned US Open champions Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi will play another pair of home qualifiers – Song Hyun-cho-Na Gwang-min. Meanwhile, Sze Fei-Izzuddin are hoping to continue their good form since reuniting when they take on China’s Ren Xiangyu-Tan Qiang in the opening round.
