Formidable pair: Retired China’s Liu Yuchen (right) and Ou Xuanyi were once ranked second in the world. —AP
PETALING JAYA: The recent retirements of some high profile men’s doubles players is something Aaron Chia wants to exploit with Soh Wooi Yik – but he is well aware that their own advancing age and emerging talents will make it tough in the men’s doubles scene post Paris Olympics.
China No. 2 Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi, once ranked second in the world, and Taiwan shuttler Lee Yang, who defended the men’s doubles gold with Wang Chi-lin in Paris, have retired.
One of Indonesia’s most decorated pairs – Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia – have also called it a day before the Olympics while it will be a monumental task for Denmark’s world No. 2 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen to survive until the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Astrup is already 32 while Rasmussen is 35-year-old.
Chi-lin, now 29, may not find his mojo with new partner Chiu Hsiang-chieh before the LA Games.
This could open the doors for world No. 3 Aaron-Wooi Yik, aged 27 and 26 respectively, to secure more success on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) tour.
“We have the advantage in terms of experience but we are also getting older and it will definitely will be a challenge after this although some top players have retired,” said Aaron.
“We have to take the young pairs seriously and continue training hard.
“We will be returning to competition at the Hong Kong and China Opens next month.”
Aaron-Wooi Yik withdrew from the ongoing Japan Open and the Korean Open in Seoul next week due to minor injuries.
Wooi Yik also felt it would be their turn to start analysing younger pairs who could challenge them on the BWF tour.
“Our target is to overcome China and India pairs but we must also be aware of the young pairs,” said Wooi Yik.
“There will be a lot of changes in the next four years with more young pairs challenging. We have to start analysing the performance of those emerging pairs and prepare accordingly to remain in the top 10.”
Aaron-Wooi Yik lost their opportunity to reach the Olympics final after losing to world No.1 Wang Chang-Liang Weikeng of China while Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty have also been a constant menace for the Malaysians on the tour.
Aaron-Wooi Yik will be looking forward to continue with the momentum that fetched them the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics when the hit the road at the Hong Kong (Sept 10-15) and the China (Sept 17-22) Opens.
