Aaron-Wooi Yik survive scare at World Championships opener

 The world No 4 pair overcame a sluggish start to beat Thailand’s 38th-ranked duo in three games to enter the second round.

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik recovered from a slow start to beat Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 15-21, 21-11, 21-18 in their World Championships opener. (EPA Images pic)

PETALING JAYA:

National men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik won their opening tie against Thailand’s top pair at the World Championships in a match that saw the former world champions struggling to win in three games.

The world No 4 Malaysians, who are former world champions, needed 57 minutes to defeat their 38th-ranked opponents Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul 15-21, 21-11, 21-18 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

Aaron-Wooi Yik struggled to find their rhythm in the first game but recovered to win the match.

The Malaysians had taken a break from their partnership earlier this year to experiment with new combinations.

They will face either compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun or China’s Huang Di-Liu Yang in the second round.

Aaron-Wooi Yik won the World Championships in 2022 in Tokyo, Japan. They reached the quarter-finals at last year’s tournament before bowing out.

Meanwhile, mixed doubles pair Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien suffered a straight-game defeat to Indonesia’s Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja. The Malaysians lost 16-21, 3-21 in 33 minutes.

In the men’s singles, Justin Hoh was also eliminated in the opening round after losing 18-21, 8-21 to Taiwan’s world No 10 Lin Chun-Yi in 40 minutes. - FMT