Aaron-Wooi Yik left with mountain to climb after wasteful display in opening loss

KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (pic) have had some success in the major events but their continuous struggle in the World Tour Finals remains a mystery.

Despite their determination to do well in the event that started in Hangzhou yesterday, Aaron-Wooi Yik fell 16-21, 21-14, 18-21 to Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan in 63 minutes in a Group A match.

This is Aaron-Wooi Yik’s fourth appearance in the World Tour Finals and the Malaysians have never reached the semi-finals.

Their defeat to 2021 world champions Hoki-Kobayashi will make their mission to reach the last eight an uphill task indeed as they must beat both China pairs Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang and Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi in their remaining group matches.

World No. 3 Aaron-Wooi Yik may have turned the tables on No. 7 Hoki-Kobayashi if they had captalised on a 5-1 lead in the fifth game but the Japanese pair were thrown a lifeline after a few unforced errors at that stage.

Yuchen-Xuanyi, the world No. 8, have started on a positive note after toppling world No. 1 Weikeng-Wang Chang 21-18, 16-21, 21-16 in another Group A match.

National director of coaching Rexy Mainaky said Aaron-Wooi Yik started slowly and this helped the Japanese pair settle into a rhythm.

“Aaron-Wooi Yik started slowly and did not put pressure on the Japanese pair and should have kept their composure when leading 5-1 in the third game but a few unforced errors disrupted their rhythm,” said Rexy.

“They managed to find their rhythm in the second game by defending, opting for counter attacks and keeping it simple when it comes to net play but could not continue playing that way in the deciding game.

“Aaron should be more focused and not give away easy points. In the third game, Aaron committed too many mistakes and he needs to cut down on that.”

Aaron-Wooi Yui face a tough second group match against Weikeng-Wang Chang today and the China pair boast a 5-1 record in their favour.

Defeat means the Malaysians are as good as out of the competition.

The other group match will pit Yuchen-Xuanyi against Hoki-Kobayashi.

Group B saw Denmark’s Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen upstaging world champions Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung Seung-jae of South Korea 21-10, 15-21, 24-22.

In another group match, Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto defeated Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana 21-14, 21-19 in an all-Indonesia clash.

SELECTED RESULTS

Men’s doubles

Group A: Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi (Jpn) bt Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 21-16, 14-21, 21-18; Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang (Chn) bt Liu Yuchen-Ou Xuanyi (Chn) 21-18, 16-21, 21-16.

Group B: Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (Den) bt Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung Seung-jae (Kor) 21-10, 15-21, 24-22; Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto (Ina) bt Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana (Ina) 21-14, 21-19.

Women’s singles

Group A: Tai Szu-ying (Tpe) bt Gregoria Mariska (Ina) 21-18, 21-17; Kim Ga-eun (Kor) bt An Se-young (Kor) 21-18, 21-18.

Group B: Carolina Marin (Spa) bt Zhang Beiwen (US) 21-18, 21-10.

Women’s doubles

Group A: Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan (Chn) bt Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn) 21-14, 21-17; Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti (Ina) 11-21, 21-16, 21-18.

Group B: Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) bt Kim So-yeong-Kong Hee-yong (Kor) 21-11, 22-20; Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida bt Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai (Tha) 21-15, 21-10.