KUALA LUMPUR: The World Tour Finals (WTF) in Hangzhou on Dec 13-17 is not merely a big-money competition that offers valuable ranking points.
It also gives the players and pairs who made the top-eight cut an indication of what to expect next season, especially at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Malaysia secured two qualification spots in the US$2 million season-ending finale through former men's doubles world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and national No. 1 mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei.
However, it has been a year of mixed results for both pairs.
With two podium finishes at the World Championships and Asian Games, as well as a maiden World Tour title (Denmark Open), Aaron-Wooi Yik have been rather consistent all season long, except in the last two tournaments (Kumamoto and China Masters), where they suffered early exits.
The same for Tang Jie-Ee Wei, who won three titles in the first half of the year, suffered a dip in form after the Asian Games in Hangzhou two months ago.
BA of Malaysia (BAM) coaching director Rexy Mainaky said the WTF is not the be-all and end-all but rather a testing ground before the Olympics next year.
"I agree, on paper, these top eight players and pairs who have qualified for the WTF are the among the favourites at the Paris Olympics," said Rexy yesterday.
"However, let's not forget those who didn't qualify for the WTF and could still spoil the party for everyone else.
"Take the men's doubles event, for example. India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty did not qualify but are one of the favourites to win the Olympic gold next year.
"The same goes for the other disciplines. There is still time before Paris.
"What I hope from our players is to see the same kind of form they displayed early in the season.
"If Aaron-Wooi Yik can replicate their performance at the World Championships, Asian Games, or when they won the Denmark Open, they have a good chance.
"Doing well at the WTF will set the tone nicely for the start of a very important year," Rexy added.
No Malaysian has won the top prize since the WTF replaced the Super Series Finals in 2018.
Former men's doubles world No. 1 Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong were the last Malaysians to win the season-ending event back in 2016.
