Aaron-Wooi Yik battle fatigue with grit to land third title of season
KUALA LUMPUR: They were fatigued after three back-to-back tournaments, but men's pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik wanted the Singapore Open title so much that their steely wills became their fuel for a fightback.
The Malaysian world No. 3 overpowered South Korean world No. 10 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae 15-21, 21-18, 21-19 in 65 minutes to secure their first Singapore Open title on Sunday.
"I think it is our trust and mental preparation (that pulled them through) because we have been playing back-to-back tournaments. Physically we were really exhausted, but we were mentally up for it," said Aaron.
"There were so many Malaysian and Singapore fans cheering fo us. This win is just not for us but for everyone here."
Wooi Yik said he was told by Aaron not to rush in a tight chase in the third game.
"It is about focus as we wanted this victory but we didn't want to rush too much and we calmed each other down," said Wooi Yik.
"Aaron told me to go point by point, don't think too much and we did it."
"Aaron-Wooi Yik pocketed the winners' purse of US$74,000 (RM314,998) while Won Ho-Seung Jae took home US$35,000.
The Koreans had beaten Aaron-Wooi Yik in the semi-finals of the India Open in January, but the Malaysians have been on a roll since winning the Asian Championships in April.
They followed it up with the Thailand Open title a fortnight ago but lost the Malaysia Masters final to compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun before getting it right again in Singapore to complete their career hat-trick.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, the 2022 former world champions, have now reached four consecutive finals this year, and only Cheah Soon Kit-Soo Beng Kiang have a better streak, having reached seven consecutive finals in 1996.
The Singapore Open victory will also take Aaron-Wooi Yik closer to the world No. 1 ranking.
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