KUALA LUMPUR – Top national top men’s doubles shuttler Aaron Chia has set his eyes on adding more World Tour titles to his and partner Soh Wooi Yik’s collection, aiming to build confidence and momentum for the upcoming Paris Olympics in July.
Reflecting on their breakthrough victory at the Denmark Open last October, where they clinched their first World Tour title, the 2020 Olympics bronze medallists are hungry for more success in the 2024 season.
Their quest starts at the Malaysia Open on Tuesday at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil and Aaron said they were optimistic about their chances.
“This year is a little bit different because it is an Olympics year, but I believe with good preparation, we can secure more titles on the tour.
“Our main target is the Olympics, but adding more titles before that can significantly boost our confidence and momentum heading into Paris,” said Aaron at a press conference at Akademi Badminton Malaysia here yesterday.
Aaron added that the Malaysia Open held special significance, not just as a tournament, but also as an opportunity to showcase their capabilities in front of a home crowd.
“I am not feeling any stress, only excitement, as it has been a while since I played in front of a home crowd.
“Because of their undying support, I feel more energised and proud to step onto the court to perform.
“We want to prove to ourselves that we can achieve better results than before. This time around, I hope to make it to the final,” added the 26-year-old former world champion.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, the third seeds, will face unseeded Danish pair Rasmus Kjær-Frederik Søgaard, in the first round of the highly anticipated Malaysia Open, with the aim of surpassing their best achievement from the 2022 edition.
The duo reached the semi-finals but fell short against Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi. – January 6, 2024