KUALA LUMPUR: Yap Roy King revealed that a mental meltdown after surrendering a 10-3 lead in the first game against Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi almost cost him and partner Aaron Tai the Kumamoto Masters title on Sunday.
Though former world champions Hoki-Kobayashi won the first game 21-16, the Malaysians prevailed 16-21, 21-13, 21-15.
Roy King, 25, said: “It was a difficult final because we were mentally drained after taking a big (10-3) lead and almost completely lost our focus.
“So, I just told Tai not to overthink things and to focus point by point. This approach pulled us through.”
In Kumamoto, Roy King-Aaron fought their way to the final after overcoming world No. 5 and compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (in the last 16), Taiwan’s world No. 15 Yang Po Hsuan-Lee Jhe Huei (quarter-finals) and Denmark’s world No. 14 Daniel Lundgaard-Mads Vestergaard (semi-finals).
“We never expected to become champions because the draw was tough,” added Roy King.
National assistant coach Chang Kim Wai praised Aaron-Roy King’s resilience.
“In the first game, they surrendered a substantial lead, but in the second, Aaron-Roy King were braver at the front court and more patient in their approach. They remained composed during the long rallies and managed to complete the job,” said Kim Wai.