Malaysia's Men's Doubles Coach Continues Partnership Experiment Despite Silver Medal

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Following Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik's impressive performance at the 2026 BWF World Championships, where they reached the final, Malaysia's head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has confirmed that the men's doubles partnership experiment will persist until the end of the year.

Despite their strong showing, which included a semifinal victory over the world No. 1 South Korean pair, Herry emphasized that the silver medal does not guarantee a return to their previous partnership. The coaching staff aims to explore various combinations before making long-term decisions, particularly with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games on the horizon.

Herry expressed confidence in the benefits of this experimentation, noting that it provides younger players with valuable experience and exposure to different playing styles. He plans to assess player performances with different partners to determine the most effective pairings moving forward.

Although Aaron and Soh have demonstrated their chemistry by reaching the finals together, they are expected to return to different partners in upcoming tournaments, as originally intended. Earlier in the season, they had been separated to test new combinations, with Aaron partnering Aaron Tai and Soh playing alongside Man Wei Chong.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding their future as a pair, both players have expressed a desire to continue playing together. Soh mentioned that they hope to align their plans with the coaching staff and the Badminton Association of Malaysia before making any decisions.