Aaron Tai becomes youngest Kumamoto Masters champion
Tai and Yap Roy King claimed their second title together, defeating Japan’s Yugo Kobayashi and Takuro Hoki in three games.
Malaysia’s Aaron Tai became the youngest player to win the Kumamoto Masters after he and Yap Roy King recovered from a game down to take the men’s doubles final. They defeated Japan’s Yugo Kobayashi and Takuro Hoki 16-21, 21-13, 21-15 in 55 minutes.
Aged 20 years and 19 days, Tai displaced China’s Liu Sheng Shu as the tournament’s youngest champion. The result also made Tai and Yap the first Malaysian men’s doubles partnership to win the event.
The world number 57 pair lost the opening game despite leading 10-3, before winning the next two. During one rally, Tai returned a smash from above his head while falling backwards, allowing Yap to finish the point.
The partnership now has two titles and a semi-final appearance from five tournaments. Their latest success followed their Arctic Open victory in Finland within the same month. Malaysia also won a title at the previous edition of the Kumamoto tournament, when Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah took the women’s doubles crown.
