KUALA LUMPUR: Former world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik must aim to be on their toes at the Super 1000 Malaysia Open on Jan 9-14.
Based on the draw, Aaron-Wooi Yik, who fell one rung to No. 4 in the world rankings, will open their campaign against Denmark's Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard.
The Malaysia pair will likely face compatriots Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the second round if they win their opening match.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday after renewing their endorsement deal with electrical appliance brand Haier, the pair pointed out that it will be crucial to maintain some form of consistency before the 2024 Paris Olympics in July.
"2023 has been a year where we have stabilised our game a little, and we want to continue playing well next year.
"It's a crucial year, and the big one is the Olympics next year," said Wooi Yik.
Aaron added: "We want to take it one match at a time."
Should Aaron-Wooi Yik reach the last eight, they could face reigning world champions Kang Min Hyuk-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea, and then a possible encounter against Asian Games champions Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty of India or China's Liu Yu Chen-Ou Xuan Yi in the semi-finals.
For the record, Aaron-Wooi Yik have only reached the semi-finals once (2022) in the Malaysia Open.
Earlier this year, Aaron-Wooi Yik were sent packing in the second round by Yu Chen-Xuan Yi.
Known to always rise to the occasion in major tournaments, Aaron-Wooi Yik finally broke their duck on the World Tour when they clinched the Denmark Open title in October.
However, the pair have suffered a dip in form since then and will be looking to move up the world rankings again.
Also in the fray for the Malaysian Open are world No. 12 Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi and No. 19 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi will play Taiwan's Lu Ching Yao-Yang Po Han in the first round, while Wei Chong-Kai Wun are up against China's world No. 1 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang.
A local pair have not won the Malaysia Open since 2014 through Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah.