Aaron-Wooi Yik on track to qualify for World Tour Finals

PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron-Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are out to end the year on a high by sealing their World Tour Finals berth after regaining their No. 2 spot in the world.

Aaron-Wooi Yik had ended their long wait for a World Tour title at the Denmark Open last month and the victory in Odense saw the pair move up two rungs to No. 2 in the latest world rankings released yesterday. They were last ranked second in February but had dropped since then.

Aaron-Wooi Yik now want to continue their good form in their remaining tournaments this year and qualify for the prestigious Tour Finals from Dec 13-17 in Hangzhou, China.

The duo will next compete in the back-to-back Japan Masters in Kumamoto (Nov 14-19) and China Masters in Shenzhen (Nov 21-26).

The 25-year-old Wooi Yik and Aaron are on course to make the cut for the prestigious Finals as they are ranked No. 5 in the Race to Hangzhou rankings.

Only the top eight pairs in the Race to Hangzhou rankings will qualify.

Wooi Yik is back in training after sustaining a slight thigh injury that kept him and Aaron out of the French Open in Rennes.

Despite their relatively comfortable position, Wooi Yik is not taking any chances.

“Aaron and I missed the French Open, so we only have two more tournaments to qualify for the Finals and we want to do well,” said Wooi Yik.

“We can’t afford to slow down now but we need to stay focused.

“I’ve just checked my injury on Monday and the doctor told me not to commit to full lunges yet. But it’s been more than a week and I have resumed full training.”

Aaron-Wooi Yik will likely be the only men’s doubles representative for Malaysia in the Finals as independent pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi are currently 10th in the Race to Hangzhou ranking and time is rapidly running out for them to make the cut.

Meanwhile, in the men’s singles, Ng Tze Yong, who reached the French Open semi-finals, moved three rungs to his career best spot in the world at 15th spot while Lee Zii Jia remained at the 11th spot.

In the mixed doubles, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei dropped one rung to the 10th spot while Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who have missed several tournaments due to the former’s injury’s, dropped three rungs to 12th in the world.