Malaysia’s Chia-Soh Suffer Shock Denmark Open Exit, Tan-Thinaah Advance
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A disappointing start to the Denmark Open for Malaysia’s top men’s doubles team, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, saw them eliminated in the first round on Thursday, October 26th, while the women’s doubles pair of Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah secured a victory. The unexpected loss casts a shadow over the Malaysian contingent as they prepare for next week’s French Open.
Reigning Champions Stumble in Odense
Despite a favorable head-to-head record against Indonesia’s Rian Ardianto – previously paired with Fajar Alfian – Chia and Soh were unable to find their rhythm against Ardianto’s new partner, Rahmat Hidayat. The Malaysian duo fell in straight sets, 17-21, 13-21, in a match that lasted just 33 minutes at the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense.
The defeat comes as a surprise given Chia and Soh’s status as former world champions. Their opponents effectively neutralized the Malaysians’ aggressive style of play, leaving them struggling to respond. “I don’t know. We just wanted to give our best, but today we didn’t play well,” a member of the team stated in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Recent Form and Fatigue Concerns
The loss follows a runner-up finish at last week’s Arctic Open in Finland, where Chia and Soh were defeated by England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy. Questions have been raised about whether fatigue from the previous tournament contributed to their performance in Denmark. However, the team remains uncertain about the extent of its impact.
Chia acknowledged the team’s errors as a key factor in the loss. “I think we made a lot of unforced errors today and our gameplay just didn’t work. That’s what caused our loss,” he said. Despite the setback, the pair are determined to regroup and prepare for the challenges ahead. “We’ll go back, regroup and prepare well for next week,” Chia affirmed.
Tan-Thinaah Secure First-Round Win
In contrast to their male counterparts, Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah demonstrated resilience and form, defeating Indonesia’s Rachel Rose and Febi Setianingrum 21-13, 21-17. The Malaysian pair displayed no signs of fatigue, securing a decisive victory in straight sets.
They will now face Japan’s newly formed duo, Arisa Igarashi and Chiharu Shida, today in their pursuit of a quarter-final berth. This match presents an opportunity for Tan and Thinaah to build on their momentum and continue their strong performance at the Denmark Open.
