Third time's a charm: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik reign supreme in Singapore
SINGAPORE, June 2 — Malaysia's national men's doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik continued their impressive run this season when they won the Singapore Open yesterday.
The Malaysians came back from a set down to beat fifth seeds Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea 15-21, 21-18, 21-19 in a 65-minute thriller at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, their third title this year following their victories at the Badminton Asia Championships in April and the Thailand Open in May.
'Their condition was very good. After the first set, I knew we needed to increase our speed. So we just pushed very hard for every point,' Wooi Yik told reporters as he credited coach Herry Iman Pierngadi for playing a major role in their recent performances, especially in refining their attacking gameplay.
'Coach really plays a very big role. He is the one with the idea of how to complete our gameplay, which was previously inconsistent. But it's still a long journey, we still have a big mission this year, so I feel this is just the start for us, he said.
Aaron meanwhile said that their coach has been instrumental in motivating them, both in matches and training sessions.
'He's only been with us for three months, so we're still learning from him. I think we still need time, but overall, we've improved. He gives us a lot of confidence during training. He doesn't put a lot of pressure on us. He also reminds us to be happy every day,' he said.
The duo said their next focus would be the Indonesia Open, scheduled for June 3 to 8 at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, where they are slated to take on Denmark's Rasmus Kjaer and Frederik Sogaard, whom they defeated in the opening round in Singapore.
The last time Malaysia won in Singapore was in 2018, through mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie, while the last Malaysian men's doubles to win was Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari in 2008. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
15 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Fugitive capybara caught by Chinese zoo after 2 months on the run
Capybaras have become popular attractions at zoos worldwide in recent years. (EPA Images pic) SHANGHAI : Officials have captured the last member of a runaway capybara gang that escaped from a zoo in eastern China two months ago, a statement said today. The missing male rodent, named 'Doubao' – 'Bean Bun' in Chinese – absconded from an enclosure at the Yangzhou Zhuyuwan Scenic Area along with two other capybaras in early April. Doubao remained at large for weeks after his companions were caught by zoo officials. 'The runaway child has returned home!' the zoo wrote in a social media post. The capybara – a rodent the size of a six-year-old child – walked into a humane trap early this morning and was returned to his enclosure by zoo staff. Despite spending two months on the run, Doubao gained weight and his fur was still 'smooth and glossy', the zoo said. 'It looks like he was doing well out there!' it added. Capybaras are native to South America but in recent years have become popular attractions at zoos worldwide, with the semi-aquatic rodents becoming unlikely darlings of the internet. The zoo said the trio made their April breakout when another capybara Bazong – 'Big Shot' – broke through a fence. Bazong was later found relaxing in a lake. It took seven or eight zoo staff to trap the second accomplice, Duoduo or 'Hide Hide', in a rubbish bin. But Doubao eluded capture, with the zoo in May issuing a mock wanted poster accusing him of engaging in a mass jailbreak. Officials at one point offered a reward of frozen fried rice, a carton of eggs, capybara-themed merchandise and lifetime entry to the zoo to anyone with information about his whereabouts. A zoo representative also repeatedly pleaded for Doubao's return on live streamed videos, today's statement said.
Free Malaysia Today
32 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
8 change pleas to not guilty on charges of extortion, threatening to kill man
All eight had initially pleaded guilty to the charges in the Johor Bahru magistrates' court on April 25. (File pic) PETALING JAYA : Eight people, including a woman known as 'Bella', changed their pleas from guilty to not guilty at the Johor Bahru magistrates' court today on charges of extorting, confining and threatening to kill a man in Plentong last April. Bella, whose real name is Nuredrianna Balqqisyh Anabella Norazman, 22, and the other seven recorded the change in plea on three charges before magistrate A Shaarmini today, Bernama reported. The other seven are Aqmal Hafifi Mustafa Kamal, 25, Ahmad Rushdi Jumadi, 23, Nur Shafiq Abdullah, 25, Haikal Zulkarnain, 19, Amierul Hakim Shamsuri, 23, Danish Hakim Kamaruddin, 20, and Syamsul Hamiziey Saiful Razali, 19. On the first charge, they were jointly accused of criminal intimidation by issuing death threats to Faris Syahmi Ridzwan, 22. On the second charge, the eight, along with two others still at large, were accused of extortion by threatening Faris to pay them RM3,000 or face further assault by the group. This allegedly led to the victim handing over RM650 in cash and the key to his motorcycle to one of the accused, Amierul. On the third charge, all the accused, along with two others still at large, were jointly accused of wrongfully confining the victim. All eight had pleaded guilty before magistrate Atifah Hazimah Wahab to the three charges on April 25. In separate proceedings before magistrate Nur Fatin Farid today, the seven men also changed their pleas to not guilty on a fourth charge of voluntarily causing hurt to the same victim, along with one other accomplice still at large. The seven men had pleaded guilty to the fourth charge before Atifah on April 25. All the alleged offences were said to have been committed at a flat in Plentong, Masai, between 10pm and 4am, from April 18 to 19. The first three charges were framed under Sections 506, 384 and 342 of the Penal Code respectively, while the fourth charge under Section 323 of the same Code. The offences carry penalties of imprisonment of up to 10 years, or a fine, or both, upon conviction. Syamsul was represented by counsel Nurul Nadia Yunos, Amierul by T Haressh, Aqmal by Khairulazwad Sariman and Rushdi by Syahmi Nawawi. The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Nik Noratini Nik Azman and Nur Fatihah Nizam. Both Shaarmini and Fatin fixed July 17 for the next mention of the case, submission of documents, and for the accused who are yet to be represented to appoint counsel.
Free Malaysia Today
39 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Taiwanese man dies after falling onto LRT tracks
Efforts to extract the deceased are ongoing, says the Selangor fire and rescue department. (JBPM pics) PETALING JAYA : A Taiwanese man died today when he was run over by a train after falling onto the tracks at the Pusat Bandar Puchong LRT station. The Selangor fire and rescue department said the victim was in his 60s and that efforts to extricate the deceased were ongoing. The department spokesman added that the man had fallen onto the tracks. FMT has reached out to police for further information on the incident. Separately, rail operator Rapid KL confirmed the incident at the station along the Sri Petaling LRT line and said services have been suspended at the Bandar Puteri, Taman Perindustrian Puchong, Pusat Bandar Puchong and IOI Puchong Jaya stations. Bus services have been activated as an alternative for passengers. Rapid KL also said trains coming from the Putra Heights station would turn back at the Puchong Perdana station. Meanwhile, trains arriving from the Sentul Timur station will turn back at the Kinrara BK5 station. In February, a blind elderly man died when he was struck by a train after losing balance and falling onto the tracks at the Titiwangsa LRT station. Prasarana Malaysia Bhd later said it planned to install platform sensors at LRT stations to enhance passenger safety, particularly for people with disabilities. Prasarana also said then that it would begin installing platform screen doors at LRT stations, similar to those used in MRT stations.
