Herry urges fans to roar Malaysia out of men's doubles drought

KUALA LUMPUR: National men's doubles coach Herry IP believes local fans could play a decisive role in ending the nation's long wait for a men's doubles title at the Malaysia Open next week.

Herry has urged supporters to pack the Axiata Arena, hoping the home crowd can lift Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to Malaysia's first men's doubles crown at the tournament since Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah's triumph in 2014.

World No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik, despite a shaky end to 2025, remain the country's best bet to end the 11-year drought, based on their favourable draw.

Standing in their way will be world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae, with the South Koreans in red-hot form after winning a record 11 titles last year, including last year's Malaysia Open.

"I am hopeful they can go all the way because of the fans," said Herry.

"The support from the crowd can make a big difference, especially when you are playing at home. Everyone has a chance, but I believe the crowd support can turn it around for Malaysian pairs.

"I hope the fans will fill up the stadium to cheer for our players. Won Ho-Seung Jae are strong, but the spectators at the Axiata Arena will be backing our pair if they reach the final."

It has been a difficult run for the hosts in men's doubles since the 2014 success, with no Malaysian pair managing to reach the final since then.

Aaron-Wooi Yik, who are placed in the bottom half of the draw, open their campaign against American world No. 32 Chen Zhi Yi-Presley Smith.

An expected second-round meeting with Taiwan's world No. 21 Liu Kuang Heng-Yang Po Han could follow, before a potential quarter-final clash against Indonesia's world No. 8 Sabar Karyaman-Moh Reza Isfahani.

A possible win over either India's world No. 3 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty or Indonesia's world No. 6 Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri would set up a mouth-watering showdown with the Koreans.

World No. 5 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun face a tough opening-round test against Denmark's world No. 10 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, while independent world No. 7 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani take on Denmark's Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard, ranked 27th.

Malaysia will have strength in numbers, with seven local pairs in the draw, alongside South Korean-Malaysian combination Choi Sol Gyu-V Shem, giving fans plenty of reason to throng the Axiata Arena.