Aaron-Roy King clinch Japan Masters title
Malaysian men’s doubles pair Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King clinched the Japan Masters title today, their second World Tour crown since teaming up last month.
The world No 57 pair defeated world No 10 home favourites Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi 16-21, 21-13, 21-15 in the final at the Kumamoto Prefectural Gymnasium in Kumamoto, Japan.
Aaron-Roy King will take home US$39,500 (RM161,400) in prize money.
Today’s win is Malaysia’s first men’s doubles title at the Japan Masters since its inception in 2023. Women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M Thinaah, who were crowned champions last year, are the only other Malaysians to have won a title at the event.
Aaron-Roy King’s Japan Masters triumph today follows their Arctic Open victory in Finland last month, the first tournament in which they played together.
They have now reached the semi-finals in three of their five tournaments together, while the other two outings saw them finish in the last-16.
They are the most successful of the new doubles combinations being tested by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) as it prepares for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Their next assignment is the Hong Kong Open, which begins on Tuesday.
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