Aaron Remains Cautious Ahead Of WTF 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) — Despite the absence of several top players, Malaysia’s men’s doubles badminton shuttler Aaron Chia remains cautious about the challenges at the World Tour Finals (WTF) 2024 in Hangzhou, China, next month as he believes the men’s doubles category always offers intense competition.

The Olympic bronze medallist, who is paired with Soh Wooi Yik, is optimistic about the presence of compatriots Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who will also represent Malaysia and sees the maximum two slots for each nation as a boost to Malaysia's chances on the prestigious badminton stage.

“This time, there’s a chance, but others are strong too, such as Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Rian Ardianto, China’s He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu, Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin, and Denmark’s Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen. Men’s doubles is highly competitive, so we just have to do our best,” Aaron said.

Speaking after attending the renewal of a three-year partnership between AFFIN Group and the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), Aaron acknowledged the competitive nature of the tournament and stressed that no match would be easy.

The collaboration was signed by Affin Bank President and CEO, Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah, and BAM acting president, Datuk V. Subramaniam.

Meanwhile Wan Razly expressed pride in AFFIN’s continued support for badminton, saying it embodies the passion, resilience and determination of Malaysians.

“Badminton is more than just a game; it is a unifying force that inspires us to strive for excellence. Through this partnership, AFFIN is committed to contributing to the nation’s sporting ambitions while fostering a culture of sportsmanship and achievement,” he said.

He outlined AFFIN’s vision for Malaysian badminton, supporting training and development for national players over the next three years with key international tournaments ahead including the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok, the Sudirman Cup 2025 in Xiamen, China, the Thomas Cup 2026 in Horsens, Denamark and the 2027 SEA Games, which Malaysia will be hosting.

Subramaniam shared similar sentiments, emphasising AFFIN’s critical role in the sport’s progress.

“The renewal of our partnership with AFFIN highlights the power of corporate collaboration in advancing Malaysian badminton. Their unwavering commitment strengthens our development programmes and creates meaningful opportunities for young players to excel,” he said.

— BERNAMA