Malaysian shuttlers eye historic double world titles in Paris

New Straits Times

6 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia could be in for a bumper outing at next month's Badminton World Championships in Paris — with not one but two world titles within reach, based on current form and World Tour stats.
In men's doubles, world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are leading the charge.
The 2022 world champions have consistently delivered at major events since their Olympic bronze in Tokyo, and remain Malaysia's best hope of striking gold again.
But there's excitement brewing on the women's front too.
Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, the new world No. 2 pair, have been gathering serious momentum.
The Thailand Open champions — who also finished runners-up in Indonesia and Japan, and made the China Open semis — are now poised to break China's long-standing grip on the women's doubles crown.
Should they succeed, Pearly-Thinaah will carve their names in history as Malaysia's first women's doubles world champions.
It won't be a solo mission in the men's doubles either.
Malaysia also boast depth, with world No. 4 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun adding firepower. Between the three pairs, they've already shared six titles this season — Aaron-Wooi Yik with three, Wei Chong-Kai Wun two, and Sze Fei-Izzuddin one.
All three pairings have reached at least one final in each of their last seven tournaments — a testament to their consistency and hunger.
Their biggest obstacle?
The in-form world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea, who have bagged five titles this year.
But with no strong second pair in sight, the pressure could mount for the Koreans in the French capital.
Malaysia, on the other hand, hold an ace — coaching maestro Herry IP. Dubbed the "Magician", the legendary Indonesian has produced multiple world champions and now heads Malaysia's doubles project at BAM.
Still, there are questions after Aaron-Wooi Yik's shock loss to scratch Indonesian duo Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri in Sunday's China Open final.
But it's not unusual for top pairs to ease off slightly before a major.
A win in China may have only added pressure ahead of Paris. As it stands, mind games are in full swing, and Aaron-Wooi Yik will lean on Herry's calming influence and his famed "no lifting" mantra to stay grounded.
In women's doubles, Pearly-Thinaah are flying under the radar — and that may work to their advantage.
They'll head to Paris as second seeds, avoiding a clash with world No. 1 Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning until the final.
But the odds aren't all in their favour — they trail Sheng Shu-Tan Ning 9-3 in past meetings, and also have a 4-1 deficit against world No. 6 Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian.
Still, with the right mindset and peak fitness, Pearly-Thinaah could whip up a storm in Paris and lead Malaysia to a historic breakthrough on the women's front.