KUALA LUMPUR: Former doubles ace Lee Wan Wah believes Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have a strong chance to shine at the World Tour Finals (WTF) after four previous failed attempts.
World No. 5 Aaron-Wooi Yik have already won medals in major events, including Olympic bronze medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 and the 2022 World Championship title.
However, they have yet to leave their mark on the WTF stage.
This year, the duo face a tricky draw in Group A, which includes China's world No. 6 Ren Xiang Yu-He Ji Ting, Indonesia's Fajar Alfian-Rian Ardianto (No. 4) and Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi (No. 11).
Compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are in Group B, where they face Denmark's top seeds Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, Taiwan's two-time Olympic champions Lee Yang-Wang Chi Lin and Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan.
Wan Wah believes the Malaysian pairs could capitalise on the absence of World No. 1 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang of China and World No. 2 Kang Min Hyuk-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea in Hangzhou.
"Aaron-Wooi Yik can make it to the last four this time, and I also believe Sze Fei-Izzuddin can join them in the knockout stage," said Wan Wah.
"The opening matches will be crucial for both pairs to build confidence and secure semi-final spots.
Aaron-Wooi Yik must first overcome Xiang Yu-Ji Ting, while Sze Fei-Izzuddin face Astrup-Rasmussen in their respective group openers on Dec 11.
Wan Wah also said the WTF can be unpredictable due to its timing at the end of the competitive season.
"Typically, players are not in their best condition at the WTF as it's the final tournament of the year.
"If Aaron-Wooi Yik can sustain the physical demands, I believe they can go far, and Sze Fei-Izzuddin have the potential to follow suit," he added.