Aaron-Wooi Yik knocked out of Malaysia Open by unheralded Taiwanese

 

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik’s dream of winning on home soil continues to be elusive. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

World No 6 men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik were shown the exit at the Malaysia Open by an unheralded Taiwan pair ranked No 27 in the BWF world rankings this evening.

Appearing to lack their killer instinct, Aaron-Wooi Yik lost 16-21, 18-21 to Lee Fang Chih-Lee Fang Jen as their opponents returned all that the Malaysians were throwing at them.

After losing the first game quite easily, the Malaysians attempted a comeback in the second game, but despite the home fans cheering them on, they succumbed eventually in 47 minutes.

For the two-time Olympic bronze medallists and 2022 world champions, their dream of winning a title on home soil continues to be elusive.

They also won the Denmark Open in 2023 and the Korea Open last year.

In another second-round match, national women’s doubles shuttlers Vivien Hoo-Lim Chiew Sien found China’s world No 1 pair Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning too strong to handle.

The world No 43 pair were thrashed by the top seeds 21-6, 21-5 in a match that lasted only 30 minutes.

Another disappointment followed for Malaysia when world No 32 pair Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong lost to the Indian pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty without much of a fight in their first encounter.

The world No 9 pair took 42 minutes to win 21-15, 21-15, much to the disappointment of the home crowd who expected more from the Malaysians after their superb win against a Chinese pair in the opener yesterday. - FMT