KUALA LUMPUR – Instead of focusing on qualifying for the season-ending World Tour Finals, Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) coaching director Rexy Mainaky is urging Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik to shift their attention to preparing for the challenging 2025 season.
World number fives Aaron and Wooi Yik still have a slim chance of securing a spot in the US$2.5 million event in Hangzhou next month.
However, to qualify, they must reach at least the semi-finals of the Super 750 China Masters in Shenzhen this week.
The 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medallists took a step in the right direction yesterday, delivering a commanding 21-12, 21-18 victory over Indonesia’s Muhammad Shohibul Fikri and Daniel Marthin in the first round.
Their next challenge is set for tomorrow against fellow Malaysians Nur Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong, who compete as independents.
Azriyn and Wee Kiong, fresh off a strong performance at the Kumamoto Masters last week, advanced to the second round with a 21-19, 21-15 win over Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul.
In a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF), Aaron and Wooi Yik expressed hope of qualifying for the World Tour Finals but admitted it was out of their hands.
“Personally, I’d rather Aaron and Wooi Yik not think about the World Tour Finals,” Rexy told Scoop.
“If they qualify, it would be great, but that shouldn’t be their main focus. I want them to focus on playing their best and gearing up for what will be a very tough season ahead, starting with the Malaysia Open (Super 1000) in January.”
Aaron and Wooi Yik have climbed to number nine in the Race to Finals standings, but they need to break into the top eight after the China Masters to secure a place in Hangzhou.
Meanwhile, independent pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who also advanced to the second round yesterday, have already secured their spot at the World Tour Finals.
Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, another Malaysian pair currently ahead of Aaron and Wooi Yik in the Race to Finals standings, will face Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard in their opening match tomorrow.
“It’s healthy to have this competition – two Malaysian pairs fighting for the final World Tour Finals slot,” Aaron told BWF.
In the mixed doubles, last week’s Kumamoto Masters semi-finalists Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai suffered a disappointing exit, losing 21-9, 21-9 to China’s Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui in the first round.
However, compatriots Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei progressed after an impressive comeback. They overturned a first-game loss to defeat Chinese Taipei’s Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Gonzales Chan 21-23, 21-9, 21-12.
Tang Jie and Ee Wei will face the winner of the clash between France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue and China’s Zhou Zhi Hong and Bao Li Jing.
In the women’s singles, independent shuttler Goh Jin Wei was sent packing by Canada’s Michelle Li, who sealed a 21-18, 21-16 victory. — November 20, 2024