World Tour Finals: Aaron-Wooi Yik suffer heartbreaking loss in thrilling clash

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik were all but eliminated from the World Tour Finals (WTF) after they lost 21-19, 18-21, 20-22 against Liu Yu Chen-Ou Xuan Yi in arguably the most entertaining match of the tournament so far.

In the end, it wasn’t to be for the world number three pair who received the short end of the stick after 76-minutes of action in Hangzhou, China on Thursday.

Despite the result, the Malaysians can be proud of their performance in an exhilarating encounter that dished out great entertainment from both pairs.

The Malaysians took the lead after winning a closely contested opening game, with the highlight coming towards the end where all four shuttlers were firing in the shuttle at a rapid pace.

Chia-Soh would have thought they had this match in the bag with a 12-7 advantage in the second game, but the Chinese pair fought hard to rattle in seven consecutive points which gave them enough impetus to level the tie.

The third game unfolded into a heart-stopping affair after the interval as both pairs traded point for point.

Chia-Soh even had match point at 20-19, but Liu-Ou levelled to force deuce and they found the composure to come away with their second consecutive win in the group.

“We played better than yesterday, but luck was not on our side today. Even in the second game, we were leading but then we started to make unforced errors. They were clear in what they wanted to do.

“But we learn from this experience and how to handle pressure. These are all top pairs whom we will be facing again in the future,” said Chia-Soh, who also lost in three close games against Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi on Wednesday.

The national men’s doubles will complete their Group A action against world number one pair Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang on Friday.

National mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei are next in action on Wednesday evening in a do-or-die clash against Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino.