Herry gives Aaron-Wooi Yik 'win world title' ultimatum

Men's doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik has warned that their partnership can only be saved if they win the world title in New Delhi this week. According to Aaron, this ultimatum was given to him by national men's doubles head coach Herry IP. Only securing a world title would ensure their continued partnership. However, the 2022 world champions faced a challenging start on Tuesday, narrowly overcoming Thailand's Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul.

Currently ranked world No. 4, Aaron-Wooi Yik needed to dig deep and won the 58-minute second-round match 15-21, 21-11, 21-18.

The struggles could be attributed to the current reshuffle experiment undertaken by Herry as he works towards developing new strong pairs for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Aaron noted that this is their last tournament together unless they secure the world title. The coaches plan to continue this until the end of the year, experimenting with changes in partners to determine if they are better or if the original pairs perform better. This approach is new and unfamiliar, yet it has made them feel fresh and unburdened by pressure.

Aaron-Wooi Yik's next 16 match is anticipated to be an intriguing contest, with either world No. 11 compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun or China's world No. 31 Huang Di-Liu Yang as potential opponents. Wooi Yik admitted that the reshuffle exercise has been difficult, as he and Aaron had been partners for nearly a decade, building momentum and a solid foundation together.

The sudden change has been challenging for him, but he views it as a new experience, one that could yield valuable insights into leadership and gameplay. Regardless of the outcome, Wooi Yik remains optimistic, stating that he has learned and improved since working with different partners.