KUALA LUMPUR: Aaron Chia, fresh from clinching the Korea Masters with Soh Wooi Yik, is not content with the success but is more concerned about the unforced errors that had crept into their game over the weekend.
Although the top Malaysian men's doubles pair had just won their first title of the year beating South Korean scratch pair Jin Yong-Kim Won Ho (21-23, 21-19, 21-14) in the super 300 tournament final in Iksan City on Sunday, Aaron wasn't jumping for joy.
Aaron felt that the unforced errors they committed against Jin Yong-Won Ho and also against Taiwan's Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin in the semi-finals on Saturday, were a bother despite the overall improvement in their performance.
"We can't take it that some of the unforced errors are still there and were also committing them on Saturday (in the semis). It should not be happening (at this stage)," said Aaron after their win.
Self analysis is the hallmark of elite players and Aaron's attitude augurs well for the pair's objective of improving on their performance at the Kumamoto Masters which begins in Japan tomorrow.
World No. 6 Aaron-Wooi Yi will begin their campaign in the Super 500 event in Japan against Denmark's Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard in the first round on Wednesday.
On the other hand, Wooi Yik attributed their ability to break the rhythm of Jin Yong-Won Ho had helped them to overcome the new pair at the Korea Masters.
Wooi Yik's performance has also been gradually picking up following a right toe surgery after the Paris Olympics in August.
"The Korean pair started very fast and were forcing us into mistakes but they started slowing down in the second game to go for more angles in their shots.
"It made us more comfortable and we managed to take charge of the rhythm and game play."
National men's doubles coach Tan Bin Shen is also hopeful of seeing them continue their progress at the Kumamoto Masters.
"They have to continue working on regaining the momentum and the tournament feeling. It's also important for them to opt for the right strategy against different opponents," said Bin Shen.
"They must rectify their errors to continue the steady progress at the next tournament."
Meanwhile, high-riding World No. 8 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will also be aiming to spread their wings further on the world tour at the Kumamoto Masters.
The independent pair have already won the Japan (Super 750), China (Super 1000) and the Arctic (Super 500) Opens since August and will be one of the contenders at the Kumamoto Masters.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin played the unheralded Lin Bing Wei-Su Ching Heng of Taiwan in the first round on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
The other Malaysian men's doubles entries in Kumamoto are World No. 14 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri (No. 19), Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King (No. 25) as well as independent pairs Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong (No. 38) and Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong (No. 47).
