KUALA LUMPUR: Men's doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik can breathe easy now after confirming their place in the World Tour Finals (WTF) on Friday, courtesy of a victory by South Korean scratch pair Jin Yong-Seo Seung Jae at the China Masters.
World No. 5 Aaron-Wooi Yik's fate was left in the hands of other pairs at the Super 750 event after their 25-23, 17-21, 21-12 loss to China's world No. 6 He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu in a 73-minute quarter-final clash.
Japan's world No. 7 Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi were the only pair who could foil Aaron-Wooi Yik's chances of qualifying for the WTF if they won the ongoing China Masters.
However, Jin Yong-Seung Jae ended that possibility by beating Hoki-Kobayashi 20-22, 21-15, 21-14 in the quarter-finals in Shenzhen.
Currently ninth in the World Tour rankings, Aaron-Wooi Yik will move into the top seven to confirm their WTF berth. They will be joined by Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin of Taiwan who will receive an automatic ticket as the Paris Olympic champions.
Aaron was relieved after securing their fifth WTF berth, having competed in the tournament in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
"I always believed that there was a chance to qualify for the WTF, even after we lost to Ji Ting-Xiang Yu," said Aaron.
"God always has shown a way for us. It is never easy but we always trust God's plan for us.
"It has not been easy for us and our performance has been up and down in the last few tournaments but we are slowly getting there."
The top Malaysia pair were forced to miss several tournaments following a toe surgery to Wooi Yik after their success of winning a second bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in August.
Aaron-Wooi Yik returned to competitions during the European legs and also won their first World Tour title, the Korea Masters, three weeks ago. But a second round exit in the Kumamoto Masters last week added pressure to Aaron-Wooi Yik's chances of qualifying for the WTF.
Hoki-Kobayashi's exit means Aaron-Wooi Yik should move up to seventh spot in the World Tour rankings which will be published by BWF on Nov 26.
Malaysia will have two men's pairs at the WTF in Hangzhou as world No. 8 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani had confirmed their spot much earlier.