Kuala Lumpur: Top national men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are facing an uphill task to qualify for the semi-finals of the BWF World Tour Finals in Bangkok.
The world number nine duo, who won their opening Group B match on Wednesday, failed to carry that momentum into their second match against Russia’s Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sonozov losing 19-21, 16-21 on Thursday.
They now have no other choice but to beat world number two pair Mohamad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan in their final group match on Friday to qualify for the last four.
Meanwhile, professional pair Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin reignited their bid to reach the semi-finals when they won their second Group A match.
After losing to Taiwan’s Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin in their opening match Wednesday, they bounced back to beat Marcus Ellis-Chris Langride of England 21-19, 21-18.
In order to qualify for the last four, Ee Yi-Yew Sin must beat another English pair Ben Lane-Sean Vendy in their final group match on Friday.
The top two in each group qualify for the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Lee Zii Jia’s four-week challenge in Thailand is unofficially over after he suffered a second straight loss in Group A.
His chances of qualifying for the semi-finals are virtually over after losing to his idol Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, the top seed, 15-21, 14-21 on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Zii Jia, 23, lost his opening group match to Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen.
He plays his remaining group match against Indonesia’s Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, who also failed to reach the semi-finals after losing his second consecutive match.
Meanwhile, national mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie failed to maintain their momentum after winning their opening Group B match when they lost to French pair Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue 17-21, 9-21.
The Malaysians must win their final group match against Indonesia’s Hafiz Faizal-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja to qualify for the semi-finals.
