KUCHING: Defending champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik moved a step closer in their Ningbo Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) campaign after booking their place in the quarter-finals today (April 9).
The Malaysian pair secured a hard-fought 22-20, 21-19 straight-sets win over host pair Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi.
Tested throughout the 43-minute encounter, the World No. 2 pair were drawn into a tight opening game that demanded composure and precision. Locked in a tactical exchange, the Malaysians held their nerve in the closing stages to edge the first game 22-20.
The second game followed a similar pattern, with Chia-Wooi Yik establishing an early advantage before the Chinese pair disrupted their rhythm to force a more physical, point-for-point contest.
Momentum shifted briefly through a series of pressured exchanges, but the Malaysians responded with controlled play to regain stability.
Relying on their experience, the defending champions managed the decisive moments well to close out the match 21-19 and remain on track in their title defence.
It was their first meeting against Ke Yuan-Xiang Yi, adding an element of unfamiliarity that required quick tactical adjustment.
For the record, having captured last year’s title with a straight-sets victory over China’s Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi, the Malaysian pair will need to maintain their momentum as they push further into the quarter-finals and continue their bid to defend the crown.
