Aaron-Wooi Yik aim for final as Herry plots downfall of Koreans

KUALA LUMPUR: Herry IP, the national men's doubles chief, urged his charges Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to avoid mirroring the aggressive style of the formidable South Korean duo Kim Won Ho-Seung Jae and Seung Jae in their crucial men's doubles semi-final match at the World Championships in New Delhi on Saturday. After witnessing Aaron-Wooi Yik's dominant performance over China's world No. 26 Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi in straight sets on Friday, Herry expressed confidence in the Malaysian pair's ability to secure a spot in the final.

The South Korean pair boasts a 3-1 head-to-head record against the Malaysians, having triumphed in the Malaysia Open and All England finals this year, with both victories decided in three-game thriller matches. Moreover, the Koreans have issued a stern warning by convincingly defeating Malaysia's independent world No. 6 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in straight games in the last eight on Friday.

Both teams have remained undefeated, with Aaron-Wooi Yik having reached the quarter-finals last year for the first time, whereas this year they have advanced to the semi-finals. In the upcoming match, the Malaysians must not follow the Koreans' rhythm but instead play aggressively, as demonstrated in their previous game against China.

Herry expressed his hope that Aaron-Wooi Yik would deliver their best performance and emerge victorious in the contest. Aaron-Wooi Yik showcased consistency and performed exceptionally well in the previous match, while the Chinese duo made numerous errors, which was unexpected. Seung Jae, the left-handed player, has been instrumental in the team's success, having won 13 consecutive men's doubles matches and 18 matches overall since 2023, including his first world crown with Kang Kyung Jin in Copenhagen and his partnership with Won Ho in Paris.