Latest news with #Aaron-WooiYik
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
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.
The Star
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Herry hails Aaron-Wooi Yik's fine run as extraordinary
National men's doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star PETALING JAYA: It is rare for players to hit the ground running under the charge of a new coach but doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have shown that they are an exception. And even doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi is surprised with how Aaron-Wooi Yik had turned their game around. On Sunday, Aaron-Wooi Yik captured the Singapore Open by beating a formidable pair in Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae of South Korea to make it one of their best years in terms of winning World Tour titles. It was their fourth final appearance this year and third back-to-back finals. They had won the Asian Championships in April and competed in the Sudirman Cup in China before returning to lift the Thailand Open and finishing as the runners-up at the Malaysian Masters. "They have been playing for three straight weeks and still went on to win the title in is extraordinary," beamed Herry. "I think, there was a drop in their physical form in Singapore and that was expected but they made it up with strong determination to win. I'm proud of them. Aaron-Wooi Yik will begin their campaign in the Indonesian Open in Jakarta on Tuesday (June 3) but Herry is keeping the boys on their feet. "I'm not setting any big targets but I just want them to give their best," added Herry. The world No. 3 will take on Denmark's Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard in the opening round.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Red-hot Aaron-Wooi Yik pocket whopping RM708,905 after stellar run
KUALA LUMPUR: High-flying Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have pocketed a whopping RM708,905 from their last four tournaments, clinching titles in three of them. The world No. 3's latest triumph came at the Super 750 Singapore Open on Sunday, where they took home a handsome US$74,000 (RM314,942). Aaron-Wooi Yik also lifted the Badminton Asia Championships title in April (RM157,438), won the Thailand Open (RM159,705) and finished runners-up at the Malaysia Masters (RM76,820). Their red-hot form could soon propel them to the world No. 1 spot, provided they maintain their consistency. Aaron has repeatedly stressed that winning titles, not chasing rankings, is their priority. "I think aiming for titles is the bigger objective. If we play well, our world ranking will automatically go up," said Aaron during the Malaysia Masters two weeks ago. "We have reached world No. 2 but never No. 1 but that is not our main aim. "Ranking doesn't give a big advantage in a very competitive doubles scene now." True to their word, the Singapore success sees their ranking points surge to 89,870. Current world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are on 91,090, while Denmark's world No. 2 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen sit on 90,411. Aaron-Wooi Yik are now just 1,200 points behind Sze Fei-Izzuddin, and a strong showing at the Super 1000 Indonesia Open, which begins on Tuesday, could finally see them crowned as the new world No. 1. Their career-best ranking remains world No. 2, achieved in January 2023.
New Straits Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
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.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Aaron-Wooi Yik crowned Singapore Open champions
KUALA LUMPUR: Men's doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik completed their first career hat-trick after clinching the Singapore Open title with a superb comeback win on Sunday. World No. 3 Aaron-Wooi Yik overcame fatigue to exact revenge over South Korean world No. 10 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae to carve out a 15-21, 21-18, 21-19 win. The Koreans defeated Aaron-Wooi Yik in straight games (22-20, 21-19) in the semi-finals of the India Open in January but the Malaysian struck back in Singapore to win their third title following their success at the Badminton Asian Championships in April and the Thailand Open a fortnight ago. Aaron-Wooi Yik earned the winners' purse of US$74,000 (RM314,998) while Won Ho-Seung Jae took home US$35,000 (RM148,985) for their efforts.
