Aaron-Wooi Yik to focus on improving world ranking

PETALING JAYA: National men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are not perturbed by not being picked for the Indonesian Asian Games.

The world No. 35 have been widely tipped to replace Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi in the squad for the Aug 18-Sept 2 showpiece after their impressive debut at the World Championships in Nanjing last week.

But the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have decided not to tweak their doubles line-up although they did replace Cheam June Wei with the world championship bronze medallist Liew Daren on the last day of registration of entries for Asiad on Tuesday.

The two men’s doubles pairs who have been named earlier in June were Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Yew Sin-Ee Yi.

Aaron said he and Wooi Yik had never thought about making the Asian Games team even after their creditable quarter-final outing in Nanjing.

“No, we’re not disappointed. Not at all,” said Aaron

“The association had made the right decision to stick to V Shem-Wee Kiong and Yew Sin-Ee Yi.

“They are currently the No. 1 and No. 2 in the men’s doubles department.

“We were only in the reserve list from the start, so we didn’t really expect to get in. If we are selected, then it’s a bonus.

“Our main priority now is to boost our world ranking.

“There are so many tournaments coming up next, so our mindset is set on doing well in those events.”

Aaron-Wooi Yik’s immediate goal is to try to secure their first international title by winning the Vietnam Open this week, where they are the top seeds.

They opened their campaign in emphatic fashion yesterday, taking just 20 minutes to dispatch Indonesia’s Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto-Rinov Rivaldy 21-14, 21-11.

Aaron-Wooi Yik will face Lin Yong-shengSu Li-wei of Taiwan for a place in the quarter-finals today.

June Wei is certainly not doing himself any favour after his first round defeat to Thailand’s Kantawat Leelavechabutr just proved that BAM were right to replace him with Daren.