Chong Wei wants action on court, not just lip service from Aaron-Soh and Co

PETALING JAYA: A valuable advice from former great Datuk Lee Chong Wei could not have been more timely for men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik as they begin their title defence at the World Championships in Copenhagen tomorrow.

National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said Chong Wei visited the players on Wednesday and offered words of encouragement to Aaron-Wooi Yik.

“It doesn’t matter if you are world No. 1 or No. 2 but go out there and just do it. This was the message from Chong Wei to Aaron-Wooi Yik as the defending champions,” Rexy said.

“He had also reminded them that the hunger is important and not their reputation.

“His words not only apply to Aaron-Wooi Yik but also others.”

Aaron-Wooi Yik, the world No. 4, became Malaysia’s first world champions in badminton by winning the elusive title in Tokyo last year.

They were not expected to win but went all the way to claim the crown but it will be tough to defend at this year’s edition.

Rexy said skills alone were not enough and being the defending champions was not an advantage for Aaron-Wooi Yik.

“I have played at this stage before – being the defending champion will not give a huge advantage. We cannot say that skills will help us to win too,” added Rexy.

“It’s about how much we want it. Wanting to win should not remain as lip service but we must also prove it.

“Aaron-Wooi Yik have been very solid in training for the last few days and will be going to world meet with the same enthusiasm.”

The good thing is that both players are well aware of their limitations and have been focusing on getting their own form to optimum level for the major event.

No reminders are needed that the world title remains their only international success to date.

Aaron-Wooi Yik, seeded fourth, received a bye in the first round and are expected to meet Jeppe Bay-Lars Molhede of Denmark in the second round before an anticipated cracker against Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi-lin of Taiwan in the third round.

Meanwhile, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) players had some light training after their arrival in Copenhagen yesterday.

The team’s training session at the Royal Arena was scheduled at 3.30pm (9.30pm Malaysian time) yesterday but the hotel check-in time was at 3pm (9pm), which forced them to miss the training session.

“It’s a little frustrating that we could not get two sessions of training. Check-in time was at 3pm and and our session at the Royal Arena was scheduled to start 30 minutes later and there was no way we could make it,” said Rexy.

“So there was only some light training conducted by the National Sports Institute (NSI) staff.”

Malaysia are expected to have their first session today while the independent shuttlers, who had arrived early on Friday, had their first training session at the Royal Arena yesterday.