Malaysia’s top men’s doubles duo suffered a shock loss at the German Open in Mulheim, Germany today. World number two pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik were knocked out in the second round by French duo Julien Maio and William Villeger, losing 15-21, 22-24 in 41 minutes. The result ended their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals in what was expected to be a strong run for the top seeds.
Their defeat adds an unexpected twist to Malaysia’s campaign in this BWF World Tour Super 300 event and comes just days before the prestigious All-England Championships in Birmingham. Both players will hope this early exit becomes a learning opportunity as they shift their focus to that major tournament.
In contrast, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin made a more positive impression at the German Open. The independent third-seeded pair progressed to at least the quarter-finals with a straight-games victory over France’s Mael Cattoen and Lucas Renoir, winning 21-17, 21-19 in their opening match.
Sze Fei and Izzuddin are making their return to Mulheim, where they previously won the title in 2022, and they are set for a possible all-Malaysian second-round clash with partners Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi.
The mixed fortunes for Malaysia at the German Open reflect the challenges its players face in a deep international field and highlight the importance of finding form ahead of larger tournaments in the 2026 season.
