PETALING JAYA: Asian champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will have the chance to exorcise one of their biggest demons when they take on Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi in the second round of the Singapore Open today.

The Malaysian pair overcame a stiff challenge from Denmark’s rising duo Frederik Sogaard-Rasmus Kjaer in their opening match yesterday, securing a 21-19, 24-22 win.

But a much tougher pair awaits the former world champions, with whom Aaron-Wooi Yik have a dismal head-to-head record, having lost nine of their 11 previous encounters.

That includes their most recent clash during the Sudirman Cup group stage in Xiamen earlier this month. Despite coming into the tie as fresh Asian champions and facing opponents who were just returning to competitive action, Aaron-Wooi Yik fell short in a gruelling 21-12, 20-22, 21-23 loss. The defeat contributed to Malaysia finishing second in the group and eventually crashing out in the quarter-finals after running into hosts China.

Aaron admitted that while things have been going smoothly, the effects of back-to-back tournaments have started to take a toll on their bodies.

The world No. 4 duo have already played 10 matches in the past two weeks, having won the Thailand Open followed by last week’s Malaysian Masters.

“I think we’ll take it step by step. This is our third tournament in a row and of course, physically, we’re a bit drained,” said Aaron in an interview with BWF.

“But it all comes down to the mental game. We just need to keep our confidence and momentum going. I believe we can push through once again.”

Also through to the next round were Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, who had little trouble dispatching France’s Eloi Adam-Leo Rossi 21-13, 21-18 in just 36 minutes.

They will face compatriots and current world No. 1 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the second round today.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin booked their spot after ousting Taiwan’s Lee Fan-chih-Lee Fang-jen 21-13, 21-11.

Meanwhile, it was an early exit yet again for Choong Hon Jian-Mohd Haikal Nazri, who fell 16-21, 13-21 to India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in the opening round.