Young ’uns to the fore
New pair Aaron-Wooi Yik continue fairy tale run into third round
Malaysian youngsters making their debut at the World Championships are certainly stamping their mark in Nanjing, China. World No. 35 Aaron ChiaSoh Wooi Yik continued their fine run to stun world No. 11 Lee Yang-Lee Jhe-huei of Taiwan to reach the men’s doubles third round. Not to be upstaged, world No. 30 Goh Jin Wei held her own to knock out world No. 16 Aya Ohori of Japan in the second round.
AARON Chia-Soh Wooi Yik came to the World Championships hoping to announce their arrival on the big stage.
And they have certainly done so after continuing their fairy tale run in Nanjing by ousting world No. 11 Lee Yang-Lee Jhehuei of Taiwan to storm into the men’s doubles third round yesterday.
The world No. 35 Aaron-Wooi Yik came from behind to win 16-21, 21-18, 21-19 in a 60-minute battle.
“We played our hearts out to win. It was a really tough match and we’re really happy to pull through,” said Aaron, 21.
“We came with minimal preparations due to the late notice but now we have made it to the last 16.
“What more can we ask for? Our confidence has doubled after the first two wins.
“We’re playing in our biggest tournament since we paired up last November and we hope to do the country proud whether we win or lose.
“We want the world to notice that there’s another young pair emerging from Malaysia.”
Aaron and 20-year-old Wooi Yik will take on world No. 8 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark today for a place in the quarter-finals.
“We have yet to meet the Danes but we’re ready for them. At this stage, we fear no one,” said Aaron.
In the other second-round clash, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong beat Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi 21-16 21-15 to triumph in the battle of two top Malaysian pairs.
“The win wasn’t as easy as the result suggested. Yew Sin and Ee Yi were always tough to play against as they know our game very well,” said V Shem.
“Obviously if we were given an option, we would prefer not to play against our teammates in the early stages.
“But it is how it is and the winners have to take the responsibility to keep the nation’s flag flying high in the competition.”
V Shem-Wee Kiong next face a daunting task against fourth seeds Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen of China, who crushed Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi 21-16, 21-10.
Both pairs have won three matches each in their last six encounters but the Chinese had won the last two at last year’s All England and Indian Open.