Malaysian men’s doubles pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, emerged champions of the men’s doubles event in the Korea Masters 2024 held at Iksan Gymnasium.
The gripping final, lasted an intense one hour and six minutes, showcasing the grit and resilience of the former world champions.
The Malaysian duo faced relentless resistance from the home team throughout the match. Despite Jin Yong and Kim Won Ho being a relatively new pairing, they pushed Aaron and Wooi Yik to their limits.
The opening set was a rollercoaster, with both pairs exchanging points and the scoreline reaching a tense 20-20 deadlock. The Korean pair maintained their composure, edging out the Malaysians 23-21 to take an early advantage.
Aaron and Wooi Yik found themselves trailing 1-5 early in the second set. However, they staged a remarkable comeback to tie the score at 7-7 and continued to trade points. With the pressure mounting, the Malaysian pair demonstrated their experience, holding firm in the crucial moments to secure a 21-19 victory and force a deciding set.
Buoyed by their second-set win, Aaron and Wooi Yik displayed their best form in the deciding set. Taking an early lead and maintaining it, they surged ahead 16-11. Despite a late fightback attempt by Jin Yong and Kim Won Ho, the Malaysians closed out the set 21-14, claiming the championship in emphatic fashion.
This victory marks Aaron and Wooi Yik’s first title of the year and reinforces their status as one of the top pairs in the world. Along with the trophy, the duo took home a cash prize of $16,590 (approximately RM72,701.40).
This success at the Korea Masters 2024 comes at a crucial time as Aaron and Wooi Yik aim to qualify for the prestigious 2024 BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China, next month. Their confidence and form from this triumph will undoubtedly provide momentum as they prepare for future challenges.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
