Good simulation: Aaron Chia (right) and Soh Wooi Yik at a training session at the Academy Badminton Malaysia.
PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are already playing at the Adidas Arena in Porte de la Chapelle, weeks before the Olympics badminton matches are held there.
Even their coach is by the sidelines, giving them tips on how to overcome their opponents.
No, they are not really in Paris.
The courts at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara have been designed to look like the courts in France for the players to have simulation matches as part of their preparations for the Olympics.
World No. 5 Aaron-Wooi Yik, who are set to be Malaysia’s sole representatives in the men’s doubles in Paris, were challenged in the simulation match by world No. 14 teammates Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
Aaron-Wooi Yik are one of Malaysia’s best bets for the elusive Olympics gold medal. The pair last competed in the Indonesian Open in Jakarta a month ago and have been working hard since then to be in the best shape for Paris.
Squash great and deputy chef de mission Datuk Nicol David, who visited ABM along with chef de mission Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin was pleased with Aaron-Wooi Yik’s preparations so far.
Nicol and Hamidin also met mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and women’s doubles shuttler M. Thinaah.
Thinaah’s partner Pearly Tan missed training due to illness.
“It’s good to see the simulation games and training session, to evaluate the current performance of our shuttlers,” said Nicol. “I’m looking forward to seeing them in action at the Olympics and I hope all their preparations will be smooth sailing.”
All three pairs will leave for a 10-day training camp next week from July 10-20 at Aire Sur La Lys in northern France.
The other shuttlers who will represent Malaysia in the Olympics are independent duo Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles) and Goh Jin Wei (women’s singles).
The badminton competition in the Olympics is set to be held from July 27-Aug 5. The draw for the competition will be released on July 12.
In the last edition in Tokyo in 2021, Aaron-Wooi Yik contributed the only medal from badminton by winning bronze.
The pair, who were then making their Olympic debut, stunned Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan in the bronze medal playoff match. Aaron-Wooi Yik are out to upgrade the colour of their medal this time around.
