In a battle where friendship was left at the locker room door, the “Big Brothers” of Malaysian badminton proved exactly why they carry the weight of a nation. Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have punched their ticket to the All England Open semi-finals after an absolute roller-coaster against compatriots Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun.
The world-class duo started like a house on fire, cruising through the first set 21-16. But the younger challengers, currently ranked World No. 6, weren’t about to roll over. Wei Chong and Kai Wun roared back in a nail-biting second set, snatching it 22-20 and sending the Utilita Arena into a frenzy.
With the momentum swinging toward the youngsters, Aaron and Wooi Yik did what they do best: they stayed ice-cold.
In the decider, the senior pair flipped the switch. Abandoning the frantic pace of the second set, they tightened their defense and dictated the rallies, opening up a massive lead before closing it out 21-14.
The job is far from over. Standing between Malaysia and a place in the prestigious final are China’s rising stars, Cheng Bo Yang and Liu Yi. While the Chinese pair sits at World No. 11, their clinical style will pose a massive threat to the Malaysian dream.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
