Malaysia’s double Aarons book semi-final spot at Taipei Open

 The new combination of Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai beat world No 17 home pair Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan in three games in the quarter-finals.

Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai are playing together for only the fourth time in two tournaments.

PETALING JAYA:

Newly-paired men’s doubles shuttlers Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai showed their new partnership may be on the right track by defeating world No 17 Tawanese pair Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan in front of the home crowd.

Chia-Tai, only playing together for the fourth time in two tournaments, took 44 minutes to beat the home pair 15-21, 21-7, 21-18 in Taiwan despite a vociferous home crowd backing their rivals in the quarter-final match.

The Malaysian duo will have to contend with another home pair in the semi-final of the World Tour Super 500 championships tomorrow as they face Chen Cheng Kuan-Liu Kuang Heng, who are ranked number 82 in the world.

Chia-Tai appear to be the most successful of the four pairs involved in the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s experimental shake-up which pairs senior players with younger shuttlers.

The other three new pairs who were eliminated in the first round at the last two championships were Soh Wooi Yik-Man Wei Chong, Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King, and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Kang Khai Xing. - FMT