Speculation surrounding Soh Wooi Yik’s future has been firmly dismissed. After a social media update led fans to question whether he would leave the national setup, Malaysia men’s doubles head coach Herry IP clarified that Wooi Yik remains fully committed to the Badminton Association of Malaysia. "Wooi Yik is staying with BAM. Maybe it's just the opinion of badminton fans," Herry stated, ending any uncertainty about the star shuttler’s allegiance.
With the rumors behind them, focus shifts entirely to the court. World No. 2 pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are deep into preparations for the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, from April 7-12. The duo aims to defend the title they claimed last year, a challenge that will test their skill, resilience, and tactical execution against Asia’s best.
Their draw is demanding from the outset. The campaign begins against Taiwan’s world No. 12 pair, Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin, followed potentially by China’s Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi in the second round. The quarter-finals could see a showdown with Japan’s world No. 8 Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi or Indonesia’s world No. 13 Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin, while the semi-finals might involve India’s world No. 4 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty or Indonesia’s world No. 5 Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri.
Coach Herry IP also highlighted a potential blockbuster final against South Korea’s world No. 1 pair, Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae. The rivalry has heated up recently, with the Malaysians narrowly missing victory in three-game finals at both the Malaysia Open and the All England Championships. "My hope is to see them meeting the Koreans again in the final. In order to beat them, we must attack. If we play defensively, we cannot match the Koreans," Herry said, emphasizing a proactive approach to finally overcome their top rivals.
With commitment, preparation, and a clear strategy in place, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are ready to defend their title in Ningbo and pursue the victory that has eluded them in recent battles against South Korea.
