KUALA LUMPUR: Newly crowned Arctic Open champions Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King dedicated their victory in Vantaa, Finland on Sunday to national men's doubles head coach Herry IP.
Herry, known as the Magician, had tipped Aaron-Roy King as a pair with huge potential a month ago, and they have now proved him right.
Aaron-Roy King defeated Taiwan's world No. 60 Lai Po Yu-Tsai Fu Cheng 21-19, 21-19 to win the Super 500 Arctic Open title in their World Tour debut.
Herry didn't travel to Vantaa, and Roy King posted a picture of him and Aaron talking to their coach via video call on his Instagram.
"This is for you," was the short message from Roy King to Herry who had taken a gamble and paired him with Aaron for the European swing.
"When I mentioned that there was a pair with very good potential, it was Aaron Tai and Roy King. They managed to prove it at the Arctic Open," said Herry.
"I had a strong feeling that they would win the Arctic Open, and it was not entirely surprising given their talent and quality.
"It's just the beginning, and they need to play against world top-10 players to grow."
The Arctic Open was 25-year-old Roy King's third World Tour title, following his triumph at the Macau Open last year with long-time partner Wan Arif Junaidi and his victory at the Korea Masters with Tee Kai Wun in August.
Herry's reshuffle also saw Aaron separated from his original partner, Kang Khai Xing, after their progress slowed despite winning the world junior title in 2024.
Aaron-Khai Xing won three titles in 2025 — the Syed Modi International, Guwahati Masters and Malaysia Super 100 — but have not added to that tally since.
The 20-year-old Aaron was subsequently paired with Aaron Chia, with the duo finishing runners-up at the Taiwan Open in August. He later partnered Soh Wooi Yik to reach the quarter-finals of the China Masters last month.
Aaron-Roy King's success will also come as a relief to Herry, as they are the first men's pair from BAM to win a Super 500 title this year — a feat that even world No. 4 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and world No. 12 Man Wei Chong-Kai Wun have yet to achieve.
Aaron-Roy King will be looking to build on their breakthrough at the next two Super 750 events — the Denmark Open in Odense, beginning on Tuesday, and the French Open from Oct 20-25 — before competing at the Hylo Open from Oct 27-Nov 1.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd