KUALA LUMPUR — Amid the controversy and speculation clouding the national doubles department, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky has urged other players to take a leaf out of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik’s book.
Aaron and Wooi Yik, who had been struggling with form and consistency since winning their second Olympic bronze at the 2024 Paris Games, silenced critics by clinching the Asian Championships (BAC) title yesterday. They beat homesters Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi 21-19, 21-17 in the final in Ningbo, China.
The victory saw the world number six pair become the first Malaysian men’s duo to win the prestigious title since Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah in 2007.
“What I hope the other pairs can learn from Aaron and Wooi Yik is how to compose themselves and stay focused,” said Rexy when contacted by Scoop.
“I want the players to reflect on how hard they’ve worked—the sweat, blood and tears that have brought them this far in their careers.
“Aaron and Wooi Yik stayed strong despite all the criticism, especially after the Olympics when they were struggling for form.”
Rexy also reminded badminton fans to remain grounded in their celebrations and avoid getting carried away by the pair’s latest success.
“I hope we can be modest and not overhype Aaron and Wooi Yik’s victory.
“What’s more important is for all of us to continue motivating and encouraging them to improve and deliver more consistent results,” he added.
The national doubles department has come under scrutiny in recent weeks for several reasons.
It began with the split of mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, who are said to have had a fallout with each other.
Soon after, speculation surfaced that top women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah were considering turning independent, having reportedly held talks with potential sponsors outside BAM.
All players are now gearing up for their next major assignment—the Sudirman Cup, which takes place in Xiamen, China, from April 27 to May 4. — April 14, 2025