KUALA LUMPUR: With the "chubby" Aaron Chia appearing "leaner and meaner", this shows how tough the training has been for him and men's doubles partner Soh Wooi Yik in their bid to win an elusive Olympic gold medal for Malaysia.
This is evident of how far they are willing to go, and the world No. 5 pair are not resting on their laurels after becoming the first Malaysian world champions in 2022.
Aaron-Wooi Yik, who marked their Olympics debut with a bronze in Tokyo three years ago, will head to the Paris Games with their sights set firmly on becoming the first Malaysians to achieve an Olympic and World Championships double— a legacy that would make them the greatest of all time.
When asked if they had thought about this extraordinary feat, Aaron said: "I think of course this could serve as motivation for us. We always want to achieve something that no one else has achieved.
"So, this Olympics presents us with the opportunity to accomplish it. But we will not put too much pressure on ourselves. What matters is to enjoy every single match and approach each of them with a never-say-die attitude."
Aaron admitted he has lost "some weight," which he hopes will make a difference in his performance on the court.
"This was a result of the training programme given by coach (Tan) Bin Shen. Of course, I've also been mindful of my diet," said Aaron.
"I managed to trim my fat and build muscles. It's not something I've been working on recently, in fact, it started at the beginning of the year. With a better physique, I certainly hope that it will help me in my Olympic quest."
Aaron and Wooi Yik have shown their pedigree in major multi-sport games, having medalled in each of them.
They started by winning gold at the Sea Games in the Philippines in 2019, followed by the Tokyo Olympics bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.
"I think our spirit of nationalism, the pride, the honour — that's where the fire comes from and fuels us," said Wooi Yik.
"We know how important these medals are for Malaysia. We want to go to the Paris Olympics carrying the same momentum. We will fight with all we have for the country."