Aaron, Soh lose in All-England men’s doubles final to Indonesians

BIRMINGHAM: Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik failed to become the ninth team from Malaysia to win the men’s doubles of the All-England badminton tournament after losing to Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia yesterday.

The Malaysians won the first set 21-11, before the Indonesians pulled one set back with a 21-14 win to set up a pulsating finale.

Mohammad and Hendra banked on their experience to overcome the fighting Malaysian fighters to take the rubber set 21-12.

In semi-finals on Saturday, Aaron-Wooi Yik clawed back from a game down to overcome Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto, the Asian Games silver medallists 12-21, 2220, 21-19.

The last Malaysian pair who won the men’s final were Razif Sidek and Jalani Sidek in 1982. The other winners were Ooi Teik Hock-Teoh Seng Khoon (1949), David Choong-Eddy Choong (1951-1953), Ooi Teik Hock-Ong Poh Lim (1954), Lim Say Hup-Teh Kew San (1959), Ng Boon Bee-Tan Yee Khan (1965-1966), Boon BeePunch Gunalan (1971) and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (2007).

Earlier, China players Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan won the women’s double.

They played 18-21, 22-20 and 21-11 against Japan players Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara.

Meanwhile, Chen Yufei won the women’s single after playing 21-17 in two games against Taiwanese Tai Tzu Ying.