KUALA LUMPUR – With less than 20 days to go until the start of the world’s largest sporting event, the Paris Olympic Games, on July 26, athletes from around the world are in intense preparation mode.
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, Malaysia’s top men’s doubles badminton duo, are making their second Olympic appearance and are considered strong contenders for a medal based on their recent performances.
Aaron has been focusing on improving his physical conditioning and appears to be in better shape.
While he did not disclose the exact amount of weight he has lost, he mentioned that his current fitness level has boosted his confidence for the upcoming competition.
“I have managed to shed some weight through training sessions planned meticulously by coach Tan Bin Shen and I have also been mindful of my diet.
“I don’t focus too much on my weight but rather on my body fat percentage.
“I hope this weight loss will benefit my performance in the court as I’ve been working on it since the beginning of the year,” said Aaron in a press conference at Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM), Bukit Kiara today.
Aaron and Wooi Yik may not have enjoyed the same luck in the BWF Tour events, but their fortunes have been exceptional in major global championships.
They have consistently medaled in prestigious tournaments including the SEA Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships, Thomas Cup, and Sudirman Cup.
They also made history by becoming Malaysia’s first world champions in 2022.
Therefore, Aaron and Wooi Yik are determined to win the gold in Paris and add to their collection of championship titles, following their bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“Of course, Olympic gold is a huge motivation for us.
“We’ve always wanted to achieve something that no one else can.
“I believe this could be our chance, like we’ve mentioned before, to play without pressure, enjoy every match, and never say die,” Aaron added. – July 10, 2024