Aaron and Wooi Yik strut their stuff to avenge defeat to Thailand duo

PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong can surely learn a thing or two from their juniors when it comes to keeping their nerves in check during crucial moments.

While V Shem-Wee Kiong keep losing under pressure, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (pic) held on to five match points in the second game yesterday before chalking up a sensational 24-22, 26-24 first-round win over Thailand’s Maneepong Jongjit-Bodin Isara at the Korean Open in Seoul.

The World Championships’ quarter-finalists made amends to their last-eight defeat to the same opponents at the Thailand Open two months ago.

A weary Aaron was pleased as punch to clear the first hurdle especially after having travelled to Seoul just days after the Malaysia Games in Perak.

“I was actually quite tired. I spent about 12 days in Perak for the Sukma before resuming training in Kuala Lumpur for five days,” said Aaron, who helped Selangor win two golds in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles.

“I didn’t think too much about winning or losing given my condition. But we were able to win because we played a good tactical game.

“Coach (Hoon Thien How) came out with a game plan and it was spot on. I can’t be more happy to win.”

Aaron-Wooi Yik will take on China’s Huang Kaixiang-Wang Zekang for a place in the quarter-finals.

Chooi Kah Ming-Low Juan Shen made a winning start as a professional pair, beating Taiwan’s Chang Ko-chi-Lu Chia-pin 21-17, 21-16 to set up a last-16 meeting against another Taiwanese Liao Min-chun-Su Ching-heng.

Kah Ming-Juan Shen were among the eight players axed during the national team downsizing exercise in July.

Two women’s doubles pairs – Chow Mei KuanLee Meng Yean and Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen – are also through to the second round.

Mei Kuan-Meng Yean barely broke a sweat as fifth seeds Lee So-hee-Shin Sheung-chan of South Korea threw in the towel after just two

minutes into the first game trailing 1-5.

“So-hee was injured. She wasn’t feeling good from the start. They also retired during the Japan and China Opens,” said Meng Yean.

Mei Kuan-Meng Yean will face another Korean test, this time against Chang Ye-naJung Kyung-eun.

Vivian-Cheng Wen had no problem ousting Americans Emily Kan-Isabel Zhong and will

take on Anggia Shitta Awanda-Ni Ketut Mahadewi Istarani of Indonesia next.

In the men’s singles, Liew Daren clawed back from a game down to beat Zhou Zeqi of China 15-21, 21-10, 21-17 to set up a meeting against Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia but Chong Wei Feng went down 16-21, 17-21 to newly crowned world No. 1 Kento Momota of Japan.