PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing had the rare opportunity of both sparring with and playing against world champions in a tournament.
The pair are all fired up to use the experience gained to conquer the boys’ doubles competition in the World Junior Championships from Sept 30-Oct 13 in Nanchang, China.
Aaron-Khai Xing not only have been sparring with senior teammates and 2022 world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara, they also had the chance to go up against South Korea’s 2023 world title winners Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae in the first round of the Hong Kong Open earlier in the month.
Aaron-Khai Xing lost out 12-21, 17-21 to the Koreans but gained plenty of valuable experience.
The pair are confident that their experience will be helpful in the world junior meet.
“Coach Rexy (Mainaky) gave us the opportunity to spar with Aaron-Wooi Yik and we learned a lot from them,” said Khai Xing after a training session in ABM yesterday.
“Their aura is different as they are world champions and also Olympic medallists.
“We also got to play against Min-hyuk-Seung-jae in the Hong Kong Open.
“Aaron-Wooi Yik always support and encourage us and all these has made us pumped up to go all out to win the gold in the world juniors.”
Malaysia last won gold in the world junior meet in 2018 through Goh Jin Wei in the girls’ singles.
The last boys’ doubles pair to win the title for the country were Teo Ee Yi-Nelson Heg in 2011.
Aaron-Khai Xing are Malaysia’s best bet to end the long wait for a world junior champion.
The pair came close to capturing gold in the Asian Junior Championships in July but had to settle for silver after going down to China’s Hu Keyuan-Lin Xiangyi in the final.
The defeat has fuelled Aaron-Khai Xing’s desire to make amends in the world junior meet.
“In the Asian Junior final, we felt a bit tired.
“Our opponents were also tired but they kept pushing us until we could not keep up.” said Khai Xing.
“In training, we have been trying to improve our stamina and we hope we can perform better in the World Juniors.
“We believe we have improved physically this time and are better prepared.”
