from left, Soh Wooi Yik, Aaron Chia, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
PETALING JAYA: Former doubles shuttler Koo Kien Keat has challenged current pairs Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to reign as the world No. 1 pair.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin overtook Aaron-Wooi Yik as the country's No. 1 after a stellar year but none of them have reached the top spot in the world.
The former moved up from No. 7 to No. 3 in the world while the latter dropped one rung to No. 6 and relinquished their top status in Malaysia for the first time since 2019.
Aaron-Wooi Yik's best is the No. 2 spot in the world.
Kien Keat, who did reach No. 1 in the world with Tan Boon Heong in 2007, is happy to see the healthy competition between the two pairs and wants them to aim for the top.
"First of all, congratulations to Sze Fei-Izzuddin. Now, I see the healthy competition between them and Aaron-Wooi Yik," said Kien Keat.
"This is good for Malaysia. Now, it's time for either of them to try to become world No. 1. They need to work harder as so many pairs are watching their progress," added Kien Keat.
