KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s top men’s doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are still feeling the heat from last week’s defeat to Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi in the Malaysia Open semifinals.
Despite their victory today in the first round of the Malaysia Masters, Aaron admitted they are still not satisfied with their performance.
“We’ve been playing on the same court since last week with the same atmosphere. The feeling of losing to them (Hoki-Kobayashi) still lingers.
“We hope before the next match comes, we will get over it and do better,” Aaron told the media after the match at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil.
The world number 6 pair defeated Japan’s Akira Koga-Taichi Saito, 21-16, 21-19 in today’s first round to set up a second round meet against Kim Gi-jung-Kim Sa-rang of South Korea, where they recently beat them at the Indonesia Open’s first round.
“They are a strong pair. We will not take it easy and do our best,” Aaron added.
Another men’s pairing that made an impression was Goh V Shem-Low Juan Shen after they brought down Indonesians and reigning All England champions Muhammad Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana of Indonesia 15-21, 21-14, 21-19.
They are going to face a tougher opponent in the second round as they will go up against recent Malaysia Open champions Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi of Japan next.
Also progressing to the second round were Yee Jun Chang-Roy King Yap as they upset Joshua Magee-Paul Reynolds of Ireland, 21-14, 22-20, while Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun overcame compatriots Nur Azriyn Ayub-Lim Khim Wah 21-13, 21-14.
The same cannot be said for Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, as their opponent Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto proved to be too powerful to allow them to progress to the second round.
This would be Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin’s seventh defeat to the Indonesians, including the one at the recent Malaysian Open that prevented them from entering the final.
In the women’s doubles category, world number 10 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah defeated India’s Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand Pullela 21-14, 21-14 to book their spot to face world’s second-ranked Yuki Fukushima-Sayaka Hirota of Japan.
Meanwhile, Anna Cheong-Teoh Mei Xing defeated Thailand’s Aimsaard sisters – Benyapa and Nuntakarn – in a straightforward 21-19, 21-17.
The rest of the women’s doubles succumbed to their opponents, including Vivian Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien and Low Yeen Yuan-Valeree Siow. – The Vibes, July 5, 2022
