Lee Chong Wei Urges Players to Communicate with BAM Amid Partnership Uncertainty

In Kuala Lumpur, badminton icon Lee Chong Wei has issued a strong statement regarding the future of Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, urging players to address any concerns with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) through professional dialogue rather than threats of leaving the association.

Lee, who leads BAM's Performance Committee, responded to speculation that Soh might explore options outside BAM to maintain his partnership with Aaron as they aim for Olympic gold in Los Angeles 2028. This discussion has gained traction following their silver medal achievement at the 2026 BWF World Championships in New Delhi.

Despite their recent success, national men's doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi plans to continue testing various partnerships until the end of the year. Lee emphasized that BAM is open to listening to players' concerns but believes that ultimatums should not be part of the conversation.

He reminded athletes of BAM's significant role in their development, providing essential resources like coaching and training facilities. Lee encouraged players to first discuss their issues with their coaches or the doubles coaching director, Rexy Mainaky, before considering drastic measures.

The future of Aaron and Soh has been in the spotlight since Herry began restructuring the men's doubles teams. Although they were temporarily separated for some matches, their reunion at the World Championships showcased their enduring competitive edge, culminating in a strong performance despite finishing as runners-up.

Lee also clarified the decision not to enter Aaron and Soh together at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, stating that the coaching staff's selection was based on various performance assessments at the time. He reiterated that decisions must be made based on available information, rather than hindsight.