Wooi Yik and Aaron Tai stun the world’s No. 10 pair

Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Tai made an immediate impression as a new partnership, defeating China’s world No. 10 men’s doubles pair at the China Masters in Guangdong.

Playing together for the first time, the Malaysians beat Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi, a home pair backed by the crowd, 21-13, 21-18 in 40 minutes. Their victory sends them into the quarterfinals, where they will meet either Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi or He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu.

Aaron, a 19-year-old from Melaka, said he was delighted with the result, particularly because the Chinese pair enjoyed strong home support. “I feel very happy with this victory because it is the first time I have partnered with my older brother, Wooi Yik. So I did not think too much, I just did what I had to do,” he told a Badminton World Federation representative after the match.

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I feel very happy with this victory because it is the first time I have partnered with my older brother, Wooi Yik. So I did not think too much, I just did what I had to do.

He said Wooi Yik offered extensive guidance during the match, especially on communication and managing pressure on court. Wooi Yik, 29, said the pair had built a good understanding despite their late formation. He credited their varied approach, saying their opponents had no data on the new partnership and struggled to read it. “We tried to vary our style of play, whether at the back or at the front of the court. We have many ways to win points, so that was what confused our opponents,” he said.

In the women’s singles, Malaysia’s K. Letshanaa lost in the round of 16 to China’s world No. 2 Wang Zhi Yi, 21-10, 21-8, in 31 minutes.

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We tried to vary our style of play, whether at the back or at the front of the court. We have many ways to win points, so that was what confused our opponents.