Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik saw their hopes of reaching the India Open final dashed after suffering a surprise defeat to Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa-Kyohei Yamashita in the semi-finals at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, New Dehli.
The world No. 2 Malaysians struggled to find their rhythm in the opening game and were comprehensively outplayed by the world No. 22 Japanese duo, who wrapped up the first set 21-10 in just nine minutes.
However, the 2022 world champions showed their resilience in the second set, stepping up the tempo with sharper movement and more aggressive shot-making. Their improved structure paid dividends as Aaron-Wooi Yik dominated the exchanges to take the set 21-13 in 19 minutes, forcing the match into a decider.
The third set developed into a tighter contest early on, with both pairs trading points, but Midorikawa-Yamashita soon seized control by opening up an 11-6 lead. Riding on that momentum, the Japanese pair maintained their composure to close out the match 21-11, sealing a memorable victory.
The result sees the head-to-head record between the two pairs level at 1-1, underlining the growing competitiveness at the top level of men’s doubles.
Despite the disappointment, Aaron-Wooi Yik will have little time to dwell on the setback as they turn their focus to the Indonesia Masters, scheduled to begin at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, this Tuesday.
Credit Photo : S
