KUALA LUMPUR — Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are poised to ignite Malaysia’s medal hopes at the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games.
Making their debut on the grand stage, the national top men’s doubles duo intend to parlay their seasoned expertise into a golden achievement for their nation.
Fresh from their stint at the Hong Kong Open, Aaron said they have devoted countless hours to rigorous training in preparation for the Asian Games.
“Our team has many debutants this year. As an experienced pair, we will do our best to guide and mentor them to give their all for Malaysia,” said Aaron.
The former world champion, who will also be competing in the men’s team event, added that the contingent is resolved to maintain composure and refrain from putting undue pressure on themselves with specific targets.
Instead, they aspire to give their absolute best for Malaysia, embracing the role of underdogs, fully aware that they are not among the top-seeded contenders.
“As a team, we don’t have personal goals for Malaysia, but we aim to perform at our best and, ideally, win a medal for our country in the games.
“Malaysia’s performance in the previous edition in Jakarta (2018 Asian Games) was not up to par, and we aspire to improve in this year’s edition by giving our all for the country,” added Aaron.
Meanwhile, women’s singles player K Letshanaa expressed her excitement as she embarked on her maiden journey at the Games.
For Letshanaa, this moment is the culmination of a lifelong dream she has tirelessly pursued since childhood.
“It has always been my dream to be a part of this prestigious tournament.
“I’ve wanted to play in this tournament since I was a little girl, and I’ve come a long way to finally achieve this moment.
“I’ve worked tirelessly to reach this level and aim to inspire many young athletes out there to never give up and continue pursuing their dreams,” she said.
The 20-year-old, who reached the quarterfinals in the 2023 Vietnam Open, expressed her gratitude to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and its coaching staff for the opportunity given to her.
“I’m genuinely happy that BAM selected me for the Asian Games, and I’m thrilled that our team has developed strong bonds.
“I will give my best effort on the court to repay the trust shown by the association and coaches through my performances,” said Letshanaa.
The badminton squad started their centralised training today at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara here until Saturday in preparation for the Games in Hangzhou.
The men’s team will take to the courts on September 28, while the women’s singles competition is set to kick off on October 2.
Malaysia has never won a medal in the women’s singles category at the Asian Games., making Letshanaa’s journey all the more significant. — September 19, 2023