Latest news with #KoreanMasters
The Star
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Naraoka out to play China spoiler again after taming Hongyang
KUALA LUMPUR: Japanese shuttler Kodai Naraoka is out to end China's title quest in the men's singles event in the Malaysian Masters today. Naraoka is plotting a win against Li Shifeng, who is China's last representative left in the meet. The 2023 World Championships silver medallist prevented an all-Chinese semi-final after beating world No. 14 Weng Hongyang 21-12, 21-19 at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil yesterday. World No. 8 Naraoka was pleased after coming out on top over the tricky Hongyang. 'Hongyang is not easy to play against, so I'm happy that I managed to beat him,' said Naraoka. 'Shifeng is also a tough opponent, so I need to prepare well to make the final.' If Naraoka manages to topple Shifeng, China's wait for a men's singles title in the competition will continue. Surprisingly, the badminton powerhouse have never had a winner in the event since the tournament's inception in 2009. Shifeng is under pressure to end the long wait in the absence of world No. 1 teammate Shi Yuqi. Based on the head-to-head records, Shifeng holds the advantage as he has beaten Naraoka five times in their past eight meetings. The latter's last win over the former came in the 2022 Korean Masters. Both Naraoka and Shifeng are eyeing a place in their first final this year.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Naraoka out to end Shifeng's good run in Malaysian Masters semis
Kodai Naraoka. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Japanese shuttler Kodai Naraoka is out to end China's title quest in the men's singles event in the Malaysian Masters. Naraoka is plotting a win against Li Shifeng, who is China's last representative left in the meet. The 2023 World Championships silver medallist prevented an all-Chinese semi-final after beating world No. 14 Weng Hongyang 21-12, 21-19 at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Friday (May 23). World No. 8 Naraoka was pleased after coming out on top over the tricky Hongyang. "Hongyang is not easy to play against, so I'm happy that I managed to beat him," said Naraoka. "Shifeng is also a tough opponent, so I need to prepare well to make the final." If Naraoka manages to topple Shifeng, China's wait for a men's singles title in the competition will continue. Surprisingly, the badminton powerhouse have never had a winner in the event since the tournament's inception in 2009. Shifeng is under pressure to end the long wait in the absence of world No. 1 teammate Shi Yuqi. Based on the head-to-head records, Shifeng holds the advantage as he has beaten Naraoka five times in their past eight meetings. The latter's last win over the former came in the 2022 Korean Masters. Both Naraoka and Shifeng are eyeing a place in their first final this year.
The Star
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Aaron-Wooi Yik storm into Thailand Open final
PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are just one win away from their second title of the year after storming into the men's doubles final in the Thailand Open. Aaron-Wooi Yik were on top of their game and pulled off a dominant 21-17, 21-13 win over home favourites Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Kittinupong Kedren in just 38 minutes at the Nimibutr Stadium in Bangkok on Saturday (May 17). It was the world No. 5 pair's third consecutive victory over the world No. 16 Thai duo, ensuring they stayed unbeaten against the latter. Aaron-Wooi Yik, who captured the Asian Championships crown last month, are looking for back-to-back titles when they take on either Indonesia's world No. 4 Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto or Denmark's surprise package William Kryger-Christian Faust in the final on Sunday (May 18). It will be the 2022 world champions' first final in the World Tour since they won the Korean Masters last November.
The Star
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
World can be their oyster
Capable of more success : Aaron and Wooi Yik have not managed to consistently bring their best form to the World Tour and have only won the 2023 Denmark Open and 2024 Korean Masters titles so far. PETALING JAYA: One is not enough. And with an intent on making former men's doubles world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik multiple title winners this year, coach Herry Iman Pierngadi is ready to guide his charges to another success at the Thailand Open starting in Bangkok today. Herry, who replaced Tan Bin Shen in February, won plaudits after guiding Aaron-Wooi Yik to the Asian Championships crown last month. Aaron-Wooi Yik, however, have not managed to consistently bring their best form to the World Tour and have only won the 2023 Denmark Open and 2024 Korean Masters titles so far. The world No. 5 pair did well to win the world title in 2022 and two bronze medals in the Olympics (2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris). Herry is keen to change their lack of titles in the World Tour. 'I want to help Aaron-Wooi Yik improve their record in the World Tour as they are one of Malaysia's best men's pairs,' said Herry. 'They have been following my training programme well since I started coaching them. There are a few aspects though that they can still improve on like Wooi Yik's power from the back court.' In Thailand, second seed Aaron-Wooi Yik will play French pair Julien Maio-William Villeger in the opening round. A victory could see the Malaysians take on Japan's tricky duo Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita next for a place in the last eight. Meanwhile, the other Malaysian men's pairs in the fray will be Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub, Mohd Haikal Nazri-Choong Hon Jian, Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong, Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing and qualifiers Chia Weijie-Lwi Shenghao. The top seeds are Indonesia's world No. 4 Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto. In the women's doubles, world No. 4 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will be the country's best hope and will open their campaign against Japan's Hina Osawa-Akari Sato. Pearly-Thinaah will be joined in the competition by Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing and youngsters Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting. Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien and Roy King-Valeree Siow will be Malaysia's mixed doubles representatives.
