KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysians are undoubtedly proud of the country’s top men’s doubles shuttlers, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, who returned from the Paris Olympics with a bronze medal, despite the nation’s hopes for gold.
However, the two-time Olympic bronze medallists refuse to rest on their laurels. They are more determined than ever to pursue the elusive gold medal, vowing to chase it until it is in their grasp.
Their drive stems from a deep admiration for their idols, Indonesia’s legendary shuttlers Muhammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, who have become the epitome of endurance and success in the sport.
At a special press conference held at the Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) yesterday, Aaron and Wooi Yik expressed that they don’t merely look up to the Indonesian veterans – they aspire to be like them.
Inspired by their idols’ longevity in the sport, Aaron and Wooi Yik are determined to persevere in their partnership for as long as it takes to achieve their ambitions. This includes winning the elusive gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“Of course, we want to be like Ahsan and Hendra, Aaron and I always talk about this,” said Wooi Yik.
“We want our partnership to last as long as possible because we know we have the potential to achieve much more.
“Unlike Ahsan and Hendra, we haven’t reached the very top yet, and our goal is to win the major tournaments.
“Ahsan and Hendra have essentially won all the major tournaments; we want to do the same. We have medals from most of the major events, but not all of them are gold. We want to win gold.”
Ahsan, who turns 37 this year, has reached an impressive five World Championships finals and won three of them with Hendra, who turns 40 this month.
Hendra also claimed Olympic gold in 2008 and another world title in 2007 with his former partner, the late Markis Kido.
Ahsan and Hendra have set the gold standard, and Aaron and Wooi Yik are determined to carve out their own legacy in badminton history.
Separately, both Wooi Yik and Aaron agreed that despite the challenges they’ve faced over the years, their partnership has matured like fine wine.
“Communication is key. In the past few years, we’ve encountered challenges and misunderstandings, but with proper communication, things have improved,” said Aaron.
Wooi Yik echoed his partner’s sentiments, saying, “Our partnership and relationship are very strong now. We have definitely matured over the years.
“However, more importantly, if we want to qualify for the Los Angeles Games in the next four years, we need to ensure our bodies and fitness are in top condition and aim to stay within the world’s top 10 rankings.”
At the recent Paris Games, world number three duo Aaron and Wooi Yik fell short in their bid to reach the final, losing to world number ones Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang of China in the semi-finals.
However, the Malaysians staged the comeback of their careers, saving four match points to overturn the momentum and secure their bronze medal with a stunning upset over world number twos Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark in the play-off.
As they continue their relentless pursuit, all eyes will be on Aaron and Wooi Yik as they strive to turn their bronze into gold in the years to come. – August 14, 2024