Bronze medalists Aaron Chia (L) and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia pose on the podium during the medal ceremony of the men’s doubles category at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan. – EPA Pic
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia have finally broken the duck at the Tokyo Olympics by winning a medal.
Malaysia’s Soh Wooi Yik (L) and Aaron Chia react after a point in their men’s doubles badminton bronze medal match against Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Indonesia’s Hendra Setiawan during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Tokyo. – AFP Pic
Today, men’s doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik staged a superb comeback to clinch the bronze medal by defeating one of their biggest rivals, Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia, 17-21, 21-17, 21-14 for third place at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza.
Malaysia’s Soh Wooi Yik (C) hits a shot next to Aaron Chia in their men’s doubles badminton bronze medal match against Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan (R) and Indonesia’s Hendra Setiawan during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Tokyo. – AFP Pic
It was the Malaysian pair’s second win over the Indonesians in nine meetings. In fact, Aaron-Wooi Yik had lost to Ahsan-Hendra in the group stage last week.
In doing so, Aaron-Wooi Yik have saved the BA of Malaysia the blushes by securing a medal.
Aaron Chia (L) and Soh Wooi Yik (R) of Malaysia celebrate after winning their men’s doubles bronze medal match against Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia. – EPA Pic
At the Rio Olympics five years ago, Malaysia won three silver medals through former world No 1 Lee Chong Wei, men’s doubles Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and mixed doubles, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.
Aaron Chia (L) and Soh Wooi Yik (R) of Malaysia celebrate after winning their men’s doubles bronze medal match against Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia. – EPA Pic
The only time the Malaysian badminton squad returned home empty-handed was at the 2000 Sydney Games and 2004 Athens edition.
Malaysia’s Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Chia (L) celebrate as they win their men’s doubles badminton bronze medal match against Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan (R) and Indonesia’s Hendra Setiawan during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Tokyo. – AFP Pic
Source: New Straits Times