PETALING JAYA: Half a year has gone by quickly and Malaysia’s men’s doubles shuttlers are shaping up nicely ahead of the prestigious World Championships from Aug 25-31 in Paris.

Malaysia’s best chance for medals in the world meet are highly likely through Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun based on their strong start to the year.

Together, the three pairs have won six titles already at the halfway point of the year.

World No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik have been the best of the three, capturing the Asian Championships, Singapore Open and Thailand Open crowns and finishing runners-up to Wei Chong-Kai Wun in the Malaysian Masters.

World No. 7 Wei Chong-Kai Wun also did well to win the Indonesian Masters along with the home Masters.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin triumphed in the Indian Open and reached world No. 1 in May for the first time.

The three pairs will be out to continue their strong form in the back-to-back Japan Open from July 15-20 and China Open from July 22-27 and give themselves another shot in the arm ahead of the world meet.

Aaron-Wooi Yik have an opportunity to win their second world title after creating history in 2022 in Tokyo by becoming the first Malaysian shuttlers to capture the crown.

Both Sze Fei-Izzuddin and Wei Chong-Kai Wun, on the other hand, will be looking to triumph in the world meet for the first time.

Meanwhile, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who also have become more consistent this year, are Malaysia’s best bet for a historic medal in the women’s doubles.

Pearly-Thinaah won the Thailand Open and finished runners-up in both the Indonesian Open and Masters.

Their solid performances saw them rise to a career high No. 3 in the world and the duo will be keen to try to become the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to win a medal in the world meet.

In the mixed doubles, top pairs Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie need to step up after inconsistent showings so far this year.

World No. 4 Tang Jie-Ee Wei and world No. 6 Soon Huat-Shevon have not reached any finals so far this year and face a tough task in Paris unless they can regain their form quickly.

Malaysia’s chances are slimmer in the men’s singles with current national No. 1 and world No. 25 Leong Jun Hao struggling in the World Tour.

Jun Hao’s best result this year came in the Singapore Open where he made it into the last eight.

Lee Zii Jia was overtaken by Jun Hao in the rankings recently after his absence from nearly all tournaments this year due to an ankle ligament injury.

The world No. 28 though will be returning in the Japan and China tourneys where he will seek to build his fitness ahead of the world meet.

In the women’s singles, both world No. 44 Goh Jin Wei and world No. 50 K. Letshanaa face uphill battles in Paris.