Aaron Chia, Soh Wooi Yik prioritise titles over rankings

KUALA LUMPUR — Once known as the nearly-men of men’s doubles, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik now boast several major and World Tour titles.

And if given the choice between achieving a career-high world ranking or winning more titles, the Malaysian world number threes would pick the latter.

“We’d like to move up the world rankings for sure, but that’s not our main priority, nor is it a huge advantage in today’s men’s doubles field.

“If you ask me, I’d rather we win more titles. Rankings are just numbers,” Aaron told the press after reaching the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Masters today — following a comfortable 21-13, 21-16 win over Chinese Taipei’s Liu Kuang Heng and Yang Po Han.

From once having no World Tour titles to their names, Aaron and Wooi Yik have since clinched the Super 750 Denmark Open, as well as the Super 300 Korea Masters and Super 500 Thailand Open.

They are also reigning Asian champions, two-time Olympic bronze medallists, and former world champions.

Meanwhile, Wooi Yik acknowledged that no pair is ever in perfect condition — success comes down to managing and adapting quickly.

“I won’t lie, playing in back-to-back tournaments is tiring, and having to perform in front of the home crowd adds a lot of pressure. But like I’ve said before, every day we try to figure out how to improve ourselves and be in the best shape possible.

“No one is ever 100 per cent. It’s about understanding what works best and how to manage things,” said Wooi Yik.

Aaron and Wooi Yik will next face Denmark’s Rasmus Kjær and Frederik Søgaard for a place in the semi-finals.

The Danes who denied an all-Malaysian quarter-final beat young locals Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai 21-10, 24-26, 21-16.

Apart from the defeat to Khai Xing and Aaron, it was a rather productive day for the Malaysian men’s doubles contingent, as Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, along with independent pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, secured their places in the last eight. Since they will face each other, Malaysia are already guaranteed a semi-final spot.

Wei Chong and Kai Wun made quick work of Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Kyohei Yamashita, winning 21-17, 21-13. Meanwhile, world number two pair Sze Fei and Izzuddin saw off Chinese Taipei’s Chen Zhi Ray and Lin Yu Chieh 21-19, 21-13.

In the women’s doubles second round, Malaysia’s top duo Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah also progressed after a 21-13, 21-15 win over Thailand’s Pichamon Phatcharaphisutsin and Nannapas Sukklad.

The third-seeded Malaysians will next face Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi.

However, it was the end of the road for Go Pei Kee and Teoh Mei Xing, who were eliminated in the second round following a 21-6, 21-13 defeat to China’s Jia Yi Fan and Zhang Shu Xian. – May 22, 2025