Not concerned by rivals’ surge in form

Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are not too concerned with the sudden surge in form by compatriots Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi.

On Saturday, Yew Sin-Ee Yi bagged their first title of the season by winning the men’s doubles final at the National Championships in Ipoh.

This comes after their fine run of reaching the final of the Malaysia Masters in January.

With the Olympic qualifying period looming (May 2019), World No 19 Aaron-Wooi Yik need to start churning out better results or face the prospect of not qualifying for next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

“I think we are still on the right track.

“There is no need for us to push the panic button yet,” said Aaron, who is in Muelheim for the German Open that starts today.

“Yew Sin-Ee Yi are no pushovers.

“In fact, they are our seniors and were ranked higher than us before we overtook them.

“It was only towards the end of last year that they lost their momentum.

“Also, we have Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong who are still the country’s best pair.

“Wooi Yik and I would rather focus on our own preparation. Of course, at the end of the day, we will all have to fight to earn our spots but we will cross that bridge when we get there.

“For now, Wooi Yik and I are determined to do well here. Our target is to at least reach the semi-finals or better still make the final on Sunday,” added Aaron.

World No 13 V Shem-Wee Kiong are the highest ranked Malaysian pair in the world rankings, followed by Aaron-Wooi Yik and 23rd-ranked Yew Sin-Ee Yi.

Aaron-Wooi Yik, who have yet to win an international title, will open their German Open campaign tomorrow against independent compatriots Arif Latif-Nur Azriyn Ayub.

Others competing in Germany are Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles), Goh Jin Wei and Soniia Cheah (women’s singles), and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, Chen Tang JiePeck Yen Wei, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Chan Peng SoonGoh Liu Ying (mixed doubles).