Time to relax: Malaysia men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik mixing it up with fans by taking photos.
PETALING JAYA: It’s fun first before serious business for doubles shuttler Aaron Chia.
Aaron, who is currently competing in the ongoing inaugural Bdmntn-XL in Jakarta, is enjoying the three-on-three match the most, which test one’s quick reflexes.
Aaron and his partner Soh Wooi Yik are playing with different teams in the US1mil invitational meet with some of the top names in the game under a different format.
The event, consisting four teams with players from different countries playing in a league system, will see the top two battle in the final today.
Besides playing singles, doubles, the team event also consist three-on-three.
Aaron said playing in the fast-attacking three against three had added an element of fun in the tournament.
In one of the matches, Aaron faced Olympic Games medal winners Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia and former international Lee Yong-dae of South Korea on the opposing court.
“The 3x3 was so interesting and fun. It was so fast. Our side faced Yong-dae and Hendra, who is the player I grew up idolising,” said Aaron.
Once the fun session is over, it will be back to serious business for Aaron as he heads straight to South Korea with Wooi Yik to compete in the Korea Masters.
The world No. 6 are on a mission to qualify for the World Tour Finals, although they have a slim chance as they are lying at the 12th spot in the Road to Hangzhou ranking.
Only the top eight after the Masters in South Korea and followed by the stops in Japan and China will get to compete in the season finale from Dec 11-15 in China.
They are trailing behind Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (No. 3) and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (No. 7) and Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Mohd Nazri (11) in the Road to Hangzhou ranking.
The Korea Masters and the two Masters in Japan and China are also important for Aaron-Wooi Yik to collect valuable ranking points, as they are currently just two rungs ahead of world No. 8 Sze Fei-Izzuddin.
Meanwhile, former international Tan Boon Heong said it was good to see the rivals playing under one team in the 3x3 meet in Indonesia.
“Usually, all these top players will be standing on the opposite side but here, some of them are playing together. It’s nice to see Yong-dae sweating it out too,” said Boon Heong.
“It’s a breakaway from the traditional game and quite fun, and it’s good for the sport.”
Rosman Razak, who is also in Jakarta, said it was not bad to see former players like Yong-dae still making special appearances.
“It’s a fun tournament, especially the three versus three,” said Rosman, who will report for duty as Malaysia’s new women’s doubles coach next week with the Badminton Association of Malaysia.
