Defending champs Aaron-Wooi Yik clear 1st hurdle at Asian meet

The world No 2 shuttlers beat Taiwan’s top pair Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin in straight games at the Badminton Asia Championships.

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are hunting for their first title this year after finishing as runners-up at the All England and Malaysia Open championships. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Defending champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik got off to a roaring start at the Badminton Asia Championships, defeating Taiwan’s top pair in the opening round today.

The world No 4 pair beat 12th-ranked Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin 21-15, 21-15 in 36 minutes at the Olympic Sports Centre in Ningbo, China, to enter the last 16.

This is their third victory over their rivals in four encounters so far.

Aaron-Wooi Yik are expected to have an easier time in the next round where they will play either Hong Kong’s Law Cheuk Him-Yeung Shing Choi or Chinese duo Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi. Both pairs are much lower ranked.

The two-time Olympic bronze medalists have yet to win a title this year after competing in five BWF championships so far. They were runners-up at the All England and Malaysia Open tournaments.

Meanwhile, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin retired in their second game when they were trailing 6-9 against South Korean pair Kim Jae Hyeon-Jang Ha Jeong in their opening tie. They lost the first game 14-21. - FMT