Tokyo Olympics: Aaron-Wui Yik stun Indonesian world no 1 to storm into semis
Published on: Thursday, July 29, 2021
By: Bernama
National men's badminton squad Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik celebrates victory after beating their Indonesian opponents Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon in the elimination round at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at Mushashino Sports Plaza on July 29, 2021. (Photo: Bernama)
TOKYO: What a match! What a result! And what a time to end their seven-match losing streak than at the world’s biggest multi-sports Games - the Tokyo Olympics!
National men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik came good at the eighth time of asking as they put on a scintillating brand of attacking game to tame Indonesian world number one Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo-Marcus Fernaldi Gideon 21-14, 21-17 in an enthralling quarter-final clash at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza here today.
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This is the world number nine Malaysian pair’s first win over the Indonesians in eight meetings since their first encounter at the 2018 Malaysia Open. The two pairs last met in the 2020 All England, with Aaron-Wooi Yik losing 17-21,19-21.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, who are making their Olympic debut, are scheduled to face China’s world number six pair Li Jun Hui-Liu Yu Chen in the semi-finals on Friday (July 30).
Aaron told reporters that he was very pleased with the win and hoped that they would be able to maintain the rhythm in the semi-finals.
“Against them (the Indonesian pair), we had nothing to lose because, based on our previous seven meetings, we have never beaten them. So, I guess the pressure was all on them.
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“But at the Olympics, anything can happen… like how (men’s singles world number one) Kento Momota suffered a shock defeat. As for us, we will just focus on our own game and give it our all,” he said.
Kento Momota of Japan went down 15-21, 19-21 to unseeded South Korean Heo Kwang-hee in the first round on Wednesday (July 28).
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Asked about their semi-final clash, Aaron said they would give their best no matter who their opponents are.
Meanwhile, Wooi Yik described their performance against the Indonesians today as among their best since they were paired together in 2017.
Having said that, he believes they still have room to improve ahead of their semi-final clash against the pair from China and, most importantly, to have faith in their own abilities.
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