Thursday, 9 May 2024

News | BWF World Championships

On an eventful day at the TOTAL BWF World Championships 2018, a relatively unknown Malaysian duo, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, surprised everyone with their impressive performance. In a stunning upset, they defeated the No.8 seeds, Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, in straight games, putting themselves just one win away from a medal.

Chia and Soh, who received a last-minute invitation to the tournament, were still coming to terms with their unexpected success as they spoke to the media. Both players expressed their disbelief at reaching the quarter-finals and the possibility of winning a World Championship medal.

Reflecting on their strategy, Chia, aged 21, mentioned that they tried to remain calm and not rush, even when they reached match point. Soh, aged 20, acknowledged that their opponents, who were known for their defensive style, posed a challenge. However, the duo prepared well and proudly acknowledged their quarter-final berth, highlighting their partnership of nine months.

Looking ahead to their quarter-final match against China’s Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen, Chia and Soh refused to put undue pressure on themselves. However, their competitive spirit was evident as they expressed their desire to go further and fight for a place in the semi-finals or even the final. They saw this as an opportunity to showcase the talent of young Malaysian players to the world.

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The day also witnessed the elimination of Danish veterans Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen, who fell to Chen Hung Ling and Wang Chi-Lin of Chinese Taipei. The latter duo will face Japan’s Takuto Inoue and Yuki Kaneko in the quest for a semi-final spot. Meanwhile, the top-seeded pair of Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo secured a quarter-final appointment with Japan’s No.5 seeds, Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda, after a comfortable victory over Russia’s Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonov.

In the Women’s Doubles category, Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi, the Olympic gold medallists and No.3 seeds, were defeated by their junior team-mates Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara. The latter pair won convincingly in straight games, leaving Matsutomo and Takahashi searching for answers.

Nagahara expressed her happiness at the quarter-final berth and hoped to win a medal. They would be facing Thailand’s Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai in the next round. On the other side of the draw, reigning World champions Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan would be up against Indonesia’s Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu, vying for a spot in the semi-finals.

In Mixed Doubles, the top-seeded duo of Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong faced a potential thriller against India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Ashwini Ponnappa. Confirming their quarter-final spot, the Indian pair mounted a strong comeback to defeat the No.7 seeds, Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai from Malaysia. Malaysia’s hopes now rested on the Olympic silver medallists, Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying, who overcame a tough challenge from the English duo of Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith. They would face Hong Kong’s Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet in the next round.

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Ponnappa, reflecting on their performance, acknowledged their initial mistakes but was confident in their strategy for the subsequent games. She emphasized their determination to give their best effort in the upcoming match, as they had nothing to lose.

In the Women’s Singles category, the top seed Tai Tzu Ying from Chinese Taipei secured her place in the quarter-finals after overcoming a spirited challenge from Beiwen Zhang of the USA. The second-seeded player, Akane Yamaguchi from Japan, would face China’s Chen Yufei, while two-time World champion Carolina Marin impressed with a victory over Japan’s Sayaka Sato.

On the men’s side, defending champion Viktor Axelsen from Denmark, Chen Long from China, and Chou Tien Chen from Chinese Taipei all progressed to the quarter-finals. Axelsen and Chen faced some resistance from their opponents but eventually emerged victorious in straight games. No.7 seed Chou displayed clinical precision in his win over Brazil’s Ygor Coelho.

For detailed results, click here.

FAQs

  1. Who are Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik?
    Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are talented Malaysian badminton players who surprised everyone with their remarkable performance at the TOTAL BWF World Championships 2018.

  2. Who did they defeat in the quarter-finals?
    They defeated the No.8 seeds, Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, in straight games.

  3. How did Chia and Soh prepare for their matches?
    They analyzed their opponents’ style of play and prepared themselves accordingly.

  4. What are their aspirations for the tournament?
    They aim to go further and reach the semi-finals or the final, showcasing the young talent from Malaysia.

  5. Who are the top contenders in the Mixed Doubles category?
    The top-seeded pair of Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong are among the favorites.

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Conclusion

The TOTAL BWF World Championships 2018 continues to surprise fans with unexpected results and outstanding performances. Upcoming players like Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are proving their mettle on the international stage, while experienced players like Tai Tzu Ying and Viktor Axelsen strive to defend their titles. The competition promises more thrilling matches as the tournament progresses.

For more updates on the event, visit the official Carnegiecentre website.