(SP)SINGAPORE-BADMINTON-SINGAPORE OPEN-MEN'S DOUBLES
(250601) -- SINGAPORE, June 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (R) of Malaysia pose on the podium during the awarding ceremony for the men's doubles final match against Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae of South Korea at the Singapore Badminton Open 2025 in Singapore, June 1, 2025. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)
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Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Will Lee Zii Jia say yes? Hannah Yeoh eyes final boost for RTG team ahead of LA28
PETALING JAYA, June 3 — Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has expressed hope that professional men's singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia will accept the offer to join the Road to Gold (RTG) programme in preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (LA28). Hannah said that she met with the Paris 2024 men's singles bronze medallist last week to discuss the benefits of the RTG initiative, particularly its expanded support for independent athletes. 'We do hope to offer the Road to Gold services to Zii Jia. I hope that he will say yes, because there is nothing to lose. 'The final decision lies with Zii Jia, and I am confident he will consider all factors,' she told reporters at the Daikin International Badminton Championship 2025 here today. Last April, the RTG Committee named Zii Jia, reigning Badminton Asia Championships men's doubles champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and 10 other badminton players for the RTG programme ahead of LA28. Zii Jia, ranked world number eight, had previously declined a spot in the RTG programme during the Paris 2024 cycle. The three non-badminton athletes listed in RTG for the LA28 cycle are track cyclists Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri, along with weightlifter Mohamad Aniq Kasdan. Hannah said the final list of RTG members for LA28 is expected to be known by the end of June. She said that the timing is due to the athletes' busy travel schedules, as they are frequently away for tournaments. 'We want to gather all of them who have said yes, so that we have that signing together,' she said. LA28 is slated to be held from July 14 to 30, 2028. — Bernama
New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Aaron-Wooi Yik aim to take direct route to the top of the world
KUALA LUMPUR: There are several possible scenarios that can lead men's doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to the summit of the world rankings. To this end, the Malaysian pair aim to take the direct route — win the Indonesia Open which starts tomorrow. But the duo will need to have plenty left in the tank as they head into their fourth straight tournament in Jakarta, hoping to close out a stellar four-week stretch with a third title. As taxing as the schedule may be, the world No. 3 — fresh off their Singapore Open win on Sunday — are determined to push through the fatigue at the Istora Senayan, driven by a tantalising reward: the world No. 1 ranking they have long craved. Aaron-Wooi Yik can finally reach the summit depending on several outcomes, but the clearest path is to lift the Super 1000 crown in Indonesia. Their campaign begins against Denmark's Frederik Sogaard-Rasmus Kjaer — their fourth meeting this year and third in as many weeks. After losing at the All England, Aaron-Wooi Yik bounced back with victories at the Malaysia Masters and Singapore Open. A win tomorrow could set up a second-round clash with either world No. 9 Leo Rolly Carnando-Bagas Maulana of Indonesia or India's former world No. 1 Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. A mouthwatering all-Malaysian quarter-final against Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun — their opponents in the Malaysia Masters final — is also on the cards. Even a runners-up finish may be enough for Aaron-Wooi Yik to become world No. 1, if current top-ranked compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani do not go beyond the semi-finals, and Denmark's world No. 2 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen fail to win the title. Aaron-Wooi Yik have logged a punishing 15 matches across the last 21 days, racking up 727 minutes of court time, including a 65-minute battle in the Singapore Open final against South Korea's Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae. But Aaron isn't letting the fatigue get to him. "Whether it's three or four back-to-back tournaments, we just want to stay focused," he said. "At this point, the priority is the Indonesia Open. We'll get our break after that. "In the final last week, after losing the first game, we were definitely a bit down physically. But we trusted our game and stayed consistent. "The most important thing is to stay consistent. Coach Herry reminded us to be confident and believe in our playing style. If we do that, anything is possible." Aaron-Wooi Yik's highest world ranking to date was No. 2, a position they last held in November 2023.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
4th title beckons but tough road awaits Aaron-Wooi Yik in Jakarta
World No 3 men's doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik credit their recent successes to their new coach, Herry Iman Pierngadi. (Instagram pic) PETALING JAYA : A breath of fresh air seems to have permeated the Malaysian badminton scene recently, thanks to some superb performances by the men's doubles pairs. At the forefront of this is world No 3 pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who have already created a personal record of winning three titles in a year – the Badminton Asia Championships in April, the Thailand Open in May, and the Singapore Open on Sunday. Hot on their heels and showing lots of promise are world No 7 pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, who have won two titles this year – the Indonesian Masters in January, and the Malaysia Masters last month, where they defeated Aaron-Wooi Yik in the final. As for world No 2 pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, there have been some disappointments this season after they won the India Open in January. They were eliminated in the early rounds in most of the other tournaments. They had done well before this, winning three titles in 2023, and another three last year. At the centre of these improved performances appears to be the new Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) doubles coach, Herry Iman Pierngadi, who had engineered Indonesia's success in the men's doubles pairs previously. Aaron-Wooi Yik were quick to credit their recent successes to their new coach, also known as the 'Fire Dragon' back home, saying he had polished their game leading to their consistent performances. The question in the minds of Malaysian badminton fans is whether the duo, who are currently in top form, can go on to make it four titles in a year by winning the Indonesia Open, which starts today. Tough draw and venue While their current form and a great coach can work in their favour, the Indonesia Open's draw is expected to present them with some of their biggest obstacles. Drawn in the top half of the World Tour 1000 series, the Malaysians are likely to face three strong pairs before they even reach the semi-finals. In their opening tie, Aaron-Wooi Yik will have to face Denmark's world No 16 pair Frederik Sogaard-Rasmus Kjaer, whom they defeated 21-19, 24-22 at the Malaysia Masters. En route to the semi-finals, they could meet former world champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan, and India's Chirag Shetty-Satwiksairaj Rankireddy. Aaron-Wooi Yik could also face compatriots Wei Chong-Kai Wun and home pair Leo Rolly Carmando-Bagus Maulana. Former national player and coach James Selvaraj pointed out that Aaron-Wooi Yik have beaten these pairs several times, and that devising the right strategies with their coach would be key. While the Indonesia Open's venue – the Istora Stadium in Jakarta – has been known to be especially unfriendly to Malaysian players, Selvaraj said Aaron-Wooi Yik have grown in mental strength in recent tournaments, even making comebacks from the brink of defeat. 'Many Malaysian players seemed to have lacked this in the past but this quality is now being displayed by Aaron-Wooi Yik and Wei Chong-Kai Wun. 'This augurs well for a possible fourth title in a year for Aaron-Wooi Yik,' he told FMT. Selvaraj added that overall consistency, which was lacking in the past, seems to be showing in these two pairs. 'Let's root for them to do it again.' At last year's Indonesia Open, Aaron-Wooi Yik were knocked out in the second round, while Wei Chong-Kai Wun were runners-up. The Indonesian Open offers total prize money of US$1.45 million. In the doubles events, the champions will pocket US$107,000 while the runners-up take home US$50,750.
