KUALA LUMPUR – National men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will need to be at their best in the opening round of the Malaysia Masters having been drawn against Indonesia’s Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan.
Having only met twice in the past with one win each, world number two duo Aaron-Wooi Yik play their first match tomorrow against the Cambodia SEA Games gold medallists.
Although the Malaysians won the most recent meeting at the 2022 Indonesia Open, Aaron noted that their 32nd-seeded opponents will be dangerous as they are fresh from their triumphant SEA Games.
“We lost to them during the Badminton Asia Championships last year, it is not easy in the men’s doubles category.
“They also got gold at the SEA Games, so we will take each match seriously, it doesn’t matter who we are going to face,” he said when met at the tournament’s test-court session at Axiata Arena.
Having just arrived back from China after the Sudirman Cup earlier today, Aaron said it feels good to compete on home ground once again, but the hectic schedule is something all athletes have to adapt to.
“As a player, we have to always be prepared regardless of if it’s a good or bad situation.
“We can’t use travelling as an excuse because it is set that way and what we can do is prepare around it.
“No matter how tired we are, we have to give it our all on court,” said the 2022 world champion.
Commenting on a recent ban on the “spin serve,” Aaron said he is not affected as his style of serving is not similar to the outlawed method.
“Maybe what I do is still legal. The serve they banned is not the way I usually serve.
“I have never faced an opponent who served that way, maybe it got banned before they could ever use it,” said Aaron.
The Badminton World Federation recently banned the spin serve in all international tournaments sanctioned by it until May 29. – The Vibes, May 22, 2023
