MEN’S doubles shuttlers Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing are used to playing together on the same side of the court.
In the Malaysia Games (Sukma) though, the top junior pair will be on opposing sides.
Aaron and Khai Xing, who are playing for Melaka and Kelantan respectively in the mixed doubles, have to turn foes today after booking their spots in the quarter-finals with different partners.
Aaron combined with Nuraqilah Maisarah Ramdan to beat Perak’s Loh Chee Kiat-P. Bavaanya 21-17, 21-8 while Khai Xing and Chan Wen Tse fought hard to overcome a spirited challenge from Johor’s Liew Xun-Carmen Ting 21-15, 19-21, 21-19 in the second round in Sibu yesterday.
Khai Xing will put aside his friendship with Aaron today as he hopes to win a medal for Kelantan with Wen Tse.
“My full focus is on the match tomorrow (today). I’m excited to play against Aaron and I hope to beat him and Nuraqilah,” said Khai Xing.
“It’s not going to be easy as I usually play in the men’s doubles but I will do my best. This is my first Sukma and I want to win a medal with Kelantan.”
The 18-year-old Khai Xing and Aaron, 17 know a lot about each other as they have been playing together since 2022 and have grown to become the best junior doubles pair in the country.
The pair won silver in the Asian Junior Championships in Yogyakarta in July and will be Malaysia’s best hope for gold in the world junior meet from Sept 30-Oct 13 in Nanchang, China.
Aaron-Khai Xing were fast tracked into the senior team last year and repaid the faith shown by their coaches by capturing their first senior title in the Thailand International Challenge in March.
Now, the promising duo have an opportunity to prove themselves in the mixed doubles and are keen to continue their good run in the Sukma.
One of them, though, will be left disappointed after the match today and both Aaron and Khai Xing are determined not be the one to taste defeat.
