KUALA LUMPUR: Given their current form and consistency, men's doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik believe they can end the country's seven-year title wait at the Malaysia Masters, which starts on Tuesday at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil.
However, winning the top prize in the next three tournaments is not their priority compared to winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics in July.
As top seeds, world No. 4 Aaron-Wooi Yik are favourites to land the Malaysia Masters crown.
The Malaysians are primed for the title, as many top pairs have skipped the Super 500 tournament to focus on the Super 750 Singapore Open and the Super 1000 Indonesia Open.
Speaking to the press after testing the courts on Monday, Wooi Yik, who captained the Malaysian Thomas Cup squad earlier this month, said:
"Preparations have been good. We also did a lot of analysis after the Thomas Cup.
"This tournament is a good platform to test ourselves before playing in bigger events.
"For now, it is crucial for us to look after our condition, but yes, we will definitely give our best to win the Malaysia Masters title."
For the record, mixed doubles Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing were the last national shuttlers to win at the Malaysia Masters achieved in 2017.
When asked if this was the best chance for a Malaysian player or pair to win on home soil, Aaron added: "Yes, but still we need to give our best to secure the title.
"Including the Malaysia Masters, this will be our last three tournaments before the Olympics.
"We would like to win a title, but more importantly, we want to peak at the Olympics.
"We are still a work in progress, and we hope to maintain this level of consistency until Paris."
The former world champions will open their campaign against a qualifier in the first round.
Barring any upsets, Aaron-Wooi Yik will likely face China's Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi in the second round.
Other Malaysian pairs in the men's doubles draw are last year's runners-up Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, fifth seeds Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Choong Hon Jian-Haikal Nazri, Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, Low Ha