
Aaron-Wooi Yik power into China Open final
Aaron-Wooi Yik played brilliantly to beat India's 2022 Asian Games gold medallists Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty 21-13, 21-17 in the last four at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Changzhou on Saturday (July 26).
The world No. 2 pair now have an opportunity to capture their first World Tour Super 1000 title when they take on Indonesia's scratch pair Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri in the title match on Sunday (July 27).
Fajar-Shohibul were also on top form when they pulled off a stunning 21-19, 21-17 win over home favourites and Paris Olympics silver medallists Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang in the other semi-final match.

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The Star
9 minutes ago
- The Star
Roy King-Arif hoping to shine in Macau Open
Malaysia men's doubles shuttlers Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King celebrates after winning over Taiwan's Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan during the second round of Malaysian Masters at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Thursday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles shuttlers Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi have an opportunity to make their mark when they compete in the World Tour Super 300 Macau Open which starts today. Roy King-Arif, who are currently ranked No. 24 in the world, have struggled for consistency this year and suffered first-round exits in the back-to-back Japan Open and China Open over the last two weeks after losing to world No. 7 teammates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun both times. The pair's best result this year is a semi-final finish in the Orleans Masters in March. Roy King-Arif will be keen to do better in Macau where they are seeded fourth. The duo though will face a stern challenge for the title from Indonesia's world No. 8 Sabar Gutama-Moh Reza and India's world No. 12 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, who are seeded first and second respectively. Before that, the Malaysians have a tricky opening test against China's Ren Xiangyu-Sun Wenjun. Roy King-Arif's best result so far in their careers is a runners-up finish in the Spain Masters which was also a Super 300 event last year.


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Tat Meng sounds alarm over Malaysia's badminton future
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national coach Wong Tat Meng has raised the alarm over Malaysia's badminton future following a dismal showing at the recent Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia. A lot of people couldn't believe the results — not one Malaysian shuttler made it to the quarter-finals of the singles events there. How could this be when Malaysia's senior players have been shinning on the World Tour? Tat Meng, who guided Lee Zii Jia to the 2024 Olympics bronze and played a key role in South Korean women's singles Olympic champion An Se Young's formative years, said he was especially worried about Malaysia's glaring weakness in the singles. He warned that Malaysian badminton future looks bleak if serious action is not taken. "I was actually here in Solo watching the Asian Junior Championships, and I have to say, it was disappointing and quite sad to see that none of our Malaysian singles players — boys or girls — made it to the quarter-finals," posted Tat Meng on Instagram today. "Even though I'm no longer based in Malaysia, I still care deeply — especially having been part of the national coaching setup in the past. "It really makes me question what has gone wrong with our junior development system for the past years? I don't know... "We have talent, no doubt, but something fundamental isn't translating into results at the international level. "It's time for an honest review and a clear long-term direction — otherwise we risk an even more serious gap in our singles department moving forward." Malaysia's Roslie Razeeq Daniel reached the third round, while Louis Lee, Ayu Fu Sheng, Lim Boon Le and Kong Wei Xiang lost in the first or second rounds of the 128-player boys' singles draw. Ng Ler Qi, Oo Shan Xi and Lee Mun reached the third round of the girls' singles, while Lim Zhi Shin and Low Zi Yu lost in the second round. National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen is in charge of Ler Qi, Shan Xi and Zhi Shin, while doubles player Lee Mun was on an eight-week trial as a singles player prior to the Asian Juniors. The others are under Datuk Tey Seu Bock, who is in charge of the junior singles squad. Tat Meng, who is now the coaching director at a private academy in Sydney, was also responding to concerns raised by former national women's singles player Ng Mee Fen. Mee Fen said the "current situation" is a major cause for concern, warning that Malaysian badminton could face serious cracks after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "Am I the only one who wonders what happened to our junior players' performance in the Asian Junior Championships in Solo? It's worrisome, especially in the singles department," Mee Fen had written on Instagram. "Most of our current senior players can play for another Olympic cycle, but we have yet to identify the junior players who can replace the seniors in five years' time. "Challenging times ahead for the juniors, and hopefully actions will be taken to improve the standard of the players before it's too late." Malaysia fared slightly better in the doubles events in Solo: three pairs — girls' doubles Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu and mixed doubles Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan and Datu Anif Isaac Asrah-Dania Sofea — made it to the last eight.


New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
China's Pan puzzled after shock 200m free exit at swimming worlds
SINGAPORE: China's Pan Zhanle said he was "not sure what happened" after crashing out in the heats of the 200m freestyle at swimming's world championships in Singapore on Monday. Pan, the 100m freestyle Olympic champion and world record holder, finished only 22nd fastest in 1min 47.46sec to miss out on the top 16 who qualify for the semi-finals. "I felt OK yesterday but today's swim felt completely different," said Pan, whose time was way outside his 200m best of 1:44.65. "I'll have to keep working hard and make adjustments, I'm not sure what happened and I'm not happy with this time." Romania's David Popovici, the 200m Olympic champion, cruised through fastest in 1:45.43 ahead of American Luke Hobson (1:45.61) and Britain's Matthew Richards (1:45.66). Pan said it would not knock his confidence for the 100m. "The 200m and 100m are two different events," he said. American legend Katie Ledecky breezed through fastest in the 1500m freestyle, an event where she holds the best 23 times in history. A day after taking bronze behind Canada's Summer McIntosh in the 400m freestyle, Ledecky touched in 15:36.68, more than 10 seconds quicker than Australia's Lani Pallister and Italy's Simona Quadarella who were second and third. Australian backstroke great Kaylee McKeown eased through the 100m heats third fastest in 58.27sec. She said she was determined to enjoy herself after getting "way too caught up" in the occasion at last year's Paris Games. The four-time world champion McKeown swept the women's backstroke events at the last two Olympics and, now 24, vowed to do things on her own terms. "I'm the happiest I've ever been and coming into this championships I just want to enjoy myself," she said. "I got way too caught up in Paris with the pressure and the nerves, and sort of let that overtake the enjoyment that comes with swimming. "This year I'm just taking a step back and doing what I want to do for once and not doing what everyone else wants me to do." Regan Smith was the fastest qualifier in 58.20 to be quickest, followed by American team-mate Katharine Berkoff in 58.55. McKeown said she was mindful of her physical condition after injuring a shoulder before a recent training camp as she looks towards competing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. "I have a few little injuries as well so I've just got to really manage myself so I can make it to LA," she said. France's Yohann Ndoye-Brouard was fastest in the men's 100m backstroke in 52.30, followed by Russian Kliment Kolesnikov (52.27) and Hungary's Hubert Kos (52.60). Ireland's Mona McSharry topped the timesheets in the women's 100m breaststroke in 1:05.99, just 0.02 ahead of Germany's Anna Elendt with Japan's Satomi Suzuki a further 0.12 back. - AFP