Smashing Aaron-Wooi Yik face Fajar-Rian in All-England final

PETALING JAYA: Doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are in the All-England final again and this time, they plan to go all the way.

On Saturday, the former world champions Aaron-Wooi Yik showed their class again to beat Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan of Taiwan 21-16, 21-15 in a 39-minute semi-final match to set up a meeting against defending champions Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto of Indonesia.

Fajar-Rian were also in their element as they outpaced Takuro Hoki-Yugo Koyabashi of Japan with a superb 21-18, 21-18 win.

Malaysia have not won an All-England men’s doubles title since Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong’s feat at the 2007 edition.

Aaron-Wooi Yik reached the final of the 2019 edition but lost to veterans Hendra Setiawan-Mohamad Ahsan.

National coaching director Rexy Mainaky, who was also the coach when Kien Keat-Boon Heong won 17 years ago, is praying for a strong finish.

“Aaron-Wooi still have one more step to go, to grab this title. I thank God for blessing them with a good run here.” said Rexy.

“They had struggled at the start of the year but now, they are in the All-England final. I hope they can maintain their form.

“It’s always nice when you see your players enjoy the game – that’s what I’ve seen in Aaron-Wooi Yik this whole week.”

Indonesia have assured the men’s singles title – a first in 30 years – after Jonatan Christie set up a final match-up against teammate Anthony Ginting.

Hariyanto Arbi was the last Indonesian to win the singles title at the 1994 edition.

FIXTURES

(From 6pm Malaysian time onward in the order below)

Women’s doubles: Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Sida (Jpn) vs Baek ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor)

Women’s singles: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) vs Carolina Marin (Spa)

Men’s singles: Anthony Ginting (Ina) vs Jonatan Christie (Ina)

Mixed doubles: Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) vs Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino (Jpn)

Men’s doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik-Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto (Ina)

RESULTS

SEMI-FINALS

Men’s singles: Anthony Ginting (Ina) bt Christo Popov (Fra) 19-21, 21-5, 21-11; Jonatan Christie (Ina) bt Lakshya Sen (Ind) 21-12, 10-21, 21-15.

Men’s doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas) bt Lee Jhe-huei-Wang Po-hsuan (Tpe) 21-16, 21-15; Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto (Ina) bt Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi (Jpn) 21-18, 21-18.

Women’s singles: Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) bt An Se-young (Kor) 21-10, 19-21, 21-14; Carolina Marin (Spa) bt Tai Tzu-ying (Tpe) 21-13, 21-12.

Women’s doubles: Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida (Jpn) bt Rena Miyaura-Ayako Sakuramoto (Jpn) 21-15, 21-12; Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor) bt Kim So-yeong-Kong Hee-yong (Kor) 21-17, 18-21, 21-16.

Mixed doubles: Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) bt Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) 21-14, 21-13; Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino (Jpn) bt Robin Tabeling-Selena Piek (Ned) 21-14, 21-16.