Kien Keat dares Aaron-Wooi Yik to smash his five-title record
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Asian Games champion Koo Kien Keat has urged high-flying Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to stay hungry and keep chasing more titles.
The world No. 3 have been in red-hot form, winning three of their last four tournaments.
Aaron-Wooi Yik have triumphed at the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC), Thailand Open and most recently the Singapore Open. Their only setback came in the Malaysia Masters two weeks ago, where they finished runners-up to compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun.
Kien Keat, who formed a world No. 1 partnership with Tan Boon Heong, holds the Malaysian record for most men's doubles titles in a calendar year — five in 2007.
But with half the World Tour season still to go, Aaron-Wooi Yik are on course to surpass that.
However, Kien Keat warned that staying sharp mentally and maintaining their hunger would be key.
"This is their best run since becoming world champions in 2022," said Kien Keat.
"But they must not get comfortable. Winning one or two titles should never be enough. They need to keep their mindset right if they want to win more."
He added that the road ahead will only get tougher.
"Opponents are now studying their game. The challenge will intensify, and they must stay a step ahead."
Kien Keat credited the pair's improved mental strength and tactical clarity to the arrival of coach Herry IP in February.
"They used to hesitate in matches, but Herry has clearly made a difference," he said.
"You can see their confidence growing. They now stick to their gameplan, even under pressure, and that's a huge step forward."
Aaron-Wooi Yik initially struggled on the World Tour, losing six consecutive finals before breaking through at the Super 750 Denmark Open in 2023.
They added the Super 300 Korea Open last year.
Now on a roll, they will be eyeing another strong showing at this week's Super 1000 Indonesia Open.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Aliana back on track after injury woes
KUALA LUMPUR: National track rider Aliana Azizan, who suffered multiple injuries in a crash last year, is expected to make a full comeback at the international level next season. National track cycling team head coach Harnizam Basri said he was pleased with both Aliana's performances as well as her confidence on the bike at the recent National Championships in Johor. It was her first race since suffering a fractured rib and a concussion in a local race in October last year. "She only trained for a month before the National Championships so to achieve what she did was quite impressive," said Harnizam recently. "Before that (one month period) she did not train on the bike. She would feel dizzy (due to effects of concussion) after doing gym work so we did not want to risk her losing her balance on the bike and crashing. "She has, however, improved a lot now and looks confident on the bike. "She is determined to regain her spot in the women's team sprint squad. We gave her spot to another rider when she was recovering. "Our goal is to prepare her for what will be a busy season next year. We will, however, be careful to monitor her condition to make sure she does not get injured. "We are hoping to see her race in the UCI Nations Cup as well as the Commonwealth and Asian Games next year." Aliana, who turns 22 next month, finished third in the women's individual sprint behind Izzah (gold) and Yong Ann Tung (silver) as well as silver in the 1 kilometre time trial behind Izzah at the National Championships in Johor. Harnizam disclosed that Aliana has been working hard to improve her strength and has increased from 54 kilogrammes to 60kg which is a positive sign.
![Sivasangari cruises into maiden British Open quarter-finals [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2FSIVA_1748996849.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Sivasangari cruises into maiden British Open quarter-finals [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: S. Sivasangari marched into the quarter finals of the British Open for the first time following an impressive display against Japan's Satomi Watanabe in Birmingham on Tuesday. World No. 9 Sivasangari, appearing in her fifth British Open, defeated world No. 7 Satomi 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-4 in 45 minutes. The 26-year-old Malaysian had never lost to Watanabe in all six previous meetings on the PSA Tour as well as defeating the Japan No.1 in the semi-finals of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. "It feels great reaching the quarter finals of the British Open," Sivasangari told PSA Squash Tour. "I think last year I got eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini in the first round, and that was a pretty tough draw. "Satomi has been playing really well recently, and we've played each other since we were in juniors, we're the same age, and she's a good friend as well. ""Today, I'm really happy with my performance. I focused on my game and on making it further in Platinum events." Facing the Malaysian, who won the Cincinnati Open in February, in the quarter-final is No.4 seed Amina Orfi, after the Egyptian avenged a painful defeat to Nada Abbas at this year's World Championships with a convincing 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 win over her compatriot. Amina beat Sivasangari in the Malaysia Cup final and Singapore Open semi-finals last November.
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Sivasangari storms into British Open quarter-finals
PETALING JAYA: S. Sivasangari has become the first Malaysian squash player since Datuk Nicol David to reach the quarter-finals stage of the British Open since 2017. The 26-year-old earned her maiden quarter-finals appearance in the prestigious tournament after taking out seventh seed Satomi Watanabe of Japan at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on Tuesday (June 3). The world No. 9 from Kedah prevailed 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-4 in the battle of Asia's top two players. Sivasangari had also beaten the Japanese in the semi-finals of the Asian Games in Hangzhou two years ago. Sivasangari has a chance to follow in Nicol footsteps if she can overcome fourth seed Amina Orfi of Egypt in the quarter-finals tomorrow (June 5). Nicol, a five-time winner of the British Open, made her last semi-final appearance in the 2017 edition in Hull, going down 6-11, 6-11, 8-11 to Camille Serme of France.
