Paris: The 2024 Paris Olympics badminton men’s doubles competition began on Saturday, with Malaysia’s World No. 4 and 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalists, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, securing a hard-fought victory in Group A. They overcame the British duo the World No. 18 Ben Lane and Sean Vendy with scores of 19-21, 21-16, 21-11, marking a challenging but victorious start.
Post-match, Chia expressed that although the match was tough, winning their opener was crucial for setting a positive tone for the rest of the tournament. He emphasized that this victory boosts their confidence moving forward.
Highlights of Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik vs. Ben Lane/Sean Vendy in 2024 Paris Olympics:
In the first game, Chia and Soh were struggling, losing 19-21 due to a slow start. Soh also acknowledged the difficulties they faced but also highlighted how they regrouped quickly and did not give up easily, focusing on not losing simple points. This shift of mindset and strategies helped them recover and take control in the second game, eventually leading to a turnaround.
Addressing their adaptation to the venue and atmosphere, Chia told reporters it’s a significantly different experience from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The vibrant crowd and dynamic environment in Paris posed unique challenges, but they quickly adjusted.
In the decisive third game, despite Soh taking a medical timeout, the pair maintained their composure. They switched sides with an 11-7 lead and continued to dominate, sealing the match 21-11 in a 72-minute contest.
Chia expressed satisfaction with their comeback, valuing the win’s significance and their ability to remain calm under pressure. Earlier, the world’s top-ranked men’s doubles pair from China, Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, also won their first group match comfortably against Canada’s Adam Dong and Nyl Yakura with scores of 21-5, 21-12.
Chia and Soh will meet Adam Dong and Nyl Yakura, while Liang and Wang will play Ben Lane and Sean Vendy on Sunday.
In mixed doubles, Malaysia’s World No. 9 Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei also got a strong start to beat Terry Hee and Jessica Tan of Singapore 23-21, 21-12 to play Vinson Chiu and Jennie Gai of the USA next.
Despite showing strong resilience, Malaysia’s World No. 13 Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan went down to World No. 1 Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan of China 17-21, 20-22.
