Germany: Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik were pushed to their limits before securing a hard-fought victory to advance into the second round of the German Open.
The world No. 2 duo overcame Denmark’s William Kryger Boe and Andreas Sondergaard 21-16, 25-23 in a tightly contested opening-round match at the Westenergie Sporthalle.
Strong Start, Nervous Finish
Entering the BWF World Tour Super 300 tournament as the top seeds, Aaron and Wooi Yik began confidently, taking control of the first game 21-16 with disciplined defense and sharp net exchanges.
However, the second game proved far more challenging. The Danish pair raised their intensity, forcing extended rallies and dragging the match into deuce after multiple momentum swings.
Despite the pressure, the Malaysian pair’s experience ultimately proved decisive. The reigning Asian champions held their composure in the crucial moments to seal the match 25-23 and avoid a deciding third game.
First Tournament in a Month
The German Open marks Aaron and Wooi Yik’s return to competitive badminton after nearly a month away from tournament action. Their last appearance was at the Indonesia Masters, making this event an important stepping stone in regaining rhythm.
While signs of rust were visible in patches, the victory demonstrated their ability to manage high-pressure situations — a key trait in elite badminton competition.
Next Round Challenge Awaits
In the second round, the Malaysian pair will face either Taiwan’s Chen Cheng Kuan-Lin Bing Wei or France’s Julien Maio-William Villeger.
The German Open serves as a crucial warm-up tournament ahead of the prestigious All England Open in Birmingham (March 3–8), one of the most significant events on the international badminton calendar.
With the All England looming, Aaron and Wooi Yik will be looking to sharpen their consistency and intensity as they build momentum during the European leg of the BWF World Tour.
Meanwhile, third seeds Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin progressed comfortably to the next round after defeating France’s Mael Cattoen/Lucas Renoir 21-17, 21-19. The Malaysian pair will now await the winners of the clash between Singapore’s Donovan Willard Wee/Jia Hao Howin Wong and fellow Malaysians Ong Yew Sin/Teo Ee Yi.
Another Malaysian duo also booked their spot in the second round. Junaidi Arif/Yap Roy King delivered a dominant performance to overcome England’s Oliver Butler/Samuel Jones 21-14, 21-12. They are set to face Taiwan’s Lee Fang-Chih/Lee Fang-Jen in their next match.
Stay tuned for more badminton news and updates from the German Open and beyond.
