Aaron-Wooi Yik down Indonesians to move into quarter-finals in Japan Open

PETALING JAYA: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik gave one of their best performances this year to march into the quarter-finals of the Japan Open and emerged as the only survivors for Malaysia.

The national men’s doubles pair swept aside Indonesia’s world No. 14 Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana 21-12, 21-10 in the second round at the Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo yesterday.

World No. 4 Aaron-Wooi Yik controlled the match from start to finish and did not give the tricky Indonesians many opportunities to win points.

It was the former’s third straight win over last year’s All-England champions Shohibul-Bagas.

Aaron-Wooi Yik had also beaten the latter in the Singapore and Indonesian Opens last month and have yet to lose to the pair.

It was a good response from Aaron-Wooi Yik after they suffered a shock 21-19, 18-21,19-21 defeat to Japan’s world No. 29 Keiichiro Matsui-Yoshinori Takeuchi in the second round of the Korean Open last week.

Doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky was pleased with the pair’s performance.

“Aaron-Wooi Yik played well today (yesterday). They were more clear with what to do on court than last week,” said Rexy.Aaron-Wooi Yik, however, now have a tough task next as they face home favourites and world No. 5 Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi for a place in the last four.

Hoki-Kobayashi hold the advantage in the head-to-head record as they have beaten Aaron-Wooi Yik five times in seven meetings in international tournaments.

The Malaysians’ last win over the Japanese pair was in a group match in the 2021 Sudirman Cup.

Aaron-Wooi Yik have never come out on top against Hoki-Kobayashi in an individual tournament with their only other win coming in the 2020 Asian Team Championships.

Meanwhile, it was the end of the road for Malaysia’s two other representatives in the men’s doubles – Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin, who were playing in their third tournament since renewing their partnership last month, lost 14-21, 17-21 to China’s world No. 7 Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi.

World No. 6 Yew Sin-Ee Yi went down fighting 21-15, 18-21, 16-21 to Taiwan’s reigning Olympics champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin.