KUALA LUMPUR — Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik may yet have plenty of unfinished business together.
The Malaysian men’s doubles pair have hinted continuing their long-standing partnership after defying expectations to finish runners-up at the World Championships in New Delhi yesterday.
Ranked fourth in the world and given little chance of reaching the final, Aaron-Wooi Yik produced one of their most impressive runs in recent years, highlighted by a stunning semi-final victory over world number one Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea.
Their campaign ended with a 21-17, 21-16 defeat to China’s world number three Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang in the 35-minute final at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, but their performances have raised fresh questions over whether the pair should remain together.
Aaron’s comments after the match suggested that despite men’s doubles coach Herry I.P.’s ongoing reshuffling exercise, he still sees a future alongside Wooi Yik.
“We’ve been partners for many years, and things are not over. It’s just a matter of refreshing our minds,” Aaron said in a post-match interview with the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
“Sometimes, being paired with different partners allows us to focus more on ourselves and identify our own weaknesses.
“Maybe that’s another way for us to look at things before we get our partnership back, or whatever happens. That’s how we see it.”
Both players had competed with different partners before reuniting for the World Championships.
Aaron partnered Aaron Tai in three tournaments, while Wooi Yik teamed up with Man Wei Chong in four consecutive World Tour events.
However, their reunion in New Delhi showed that their understanding and experience as a pair remain intact.
Wooi Yik, who won the world title with Aaron in 2022, said he was pleased with their run to the final, particularly after raising their level when it mattered most in the medal rounds.
“I’m still very happy with the result. I think we’ve done a good job to reach the final,” said Wooi Yik.
“Although we lost in the final, I’m pleased with our performance. We just couldn’t finish it in the best way.
“I think there is still much more to win and many more targets ahead, and that’s what I hope for.”
Wooi Yik also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding their future but made clear how much the partnership meant to him.
“I really appreciate this partnership. We’ve been together for so many years, and I think our careers won’t last forever. So, I want to think about what we should do next.
“If the plan is for us to split and find new partners, then I will think about it and see how things go.”
In the final, however, the Malaysians were unable to match the Chinese pair’s intensity, with Wooi Yik admitting Liang and Wang had the upper hand in attack and at the front court.
“They were stronger in attack and front-court play, and this is something we need to control better in future matches,” he said.
Aaron agreed, saying the pressure imposed by the Chinese pair made it difficult for them to find a way back into the contest.
“They played very well and put us under a lot of pressure. We couldn’t find a way to get out of that struggle and turn the match around,” Aaron said.
“But I’m still happy because we now have a complete set – gold, silver and bronze.”
Aaron and Wooi Yik won the world title in 2022 and bronze in 2021 and 2023, with their silver in New Delhi completing their collection of World Championships medals.
Their impressive run has also come at an intriguing time, with the partnership facing an uncertain future following Herry’s decision to experiment with new combinations.
Aaron will partner Tee Kai Wun at next month’s Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, while Wooi Yik was not selected for the Malaysian squad.
Their performances in New Delhi, however, have strengthened the argument that Aaron and Wooi Yik may still have much to offer as a partnership.
With the Asian Games squad already finalised, there is no opportunity for a late change to bring Wooi Yik into the team.
But after a World Championships campaign that saw them overcome the world’s top-ranked pair before reaching the final, Aaron and Wooi Yik have given Malaysia’s coaches plenty to consider about whether one of the country’s most successful men’s doubles partnerships should really be broken up. – August 24, 2026