PETALING JAYA: Former All-England champions Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong are hoping Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will get it right in their third attempt to end Malaysia’s long wait for the prestigious title.
The second seeds Aaron-Wooi Yik will face top seeds and defending champions Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae of South Korea in the title match in Birmingham on Sunday (March 8).
It will be the Malaysians' third final appearance after finishing runners-up in the 2019 and 2024 editions.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong had defeated China’s Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng in a thrilling final to end the country’s 25-year long wait for the title in 2007. Before them, the last Malaysian winners were Razif Sidek-Jalani Sidek in 1982.
Now, the former greats are hoping Aaron-Wooi Yik can shatter the country’s 19-year wait.
Kien Keat said it would all come down to having the right mindset.
"I hope our boys will play like they have never won any major tournaments before – although they have already won the world title," said Kien Keat.
Aaron-Wooi Yik lifted the world title in 2022 but have fallen short in the All-England final twice, in 2019 and 2024.
"It will be hard against the Koreans. Aaron-Yik will need a stronger mindset and patience to win. Stay hungry and all the best."
Boon Heong acknowledged the stature of the defending world champions Won-ho-Seung-jae, who have enjoyed a superb season since pairing up last year.
"Everyone says it's hard to beat the Koreans but I believe in our players. They have a fighting chance," said Boon Heong.
"The wait has been too long and I hope our boys will go for it this time."
The Malaysians have lost to the Koreans twice - at the 2025 Indian Open semi-finals and the 2026 Malaysian Open final but they also pulled off a big win over them at the 2025 Singapore Open en route to the title.
All Malaysian fans are hoping Aaron-Wooi Yik, currently training under Indonesian coach Herry Iman Pierngadi, can finally make it happen.
ORDER OF PLAY
(Starting from 7pm Malaysian time)
Mixed doubles: Ye Hong Wei-Nicole Chan (Tpe) vs Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue (Fra).
Men's singles: Lakshya Sen (Ind) vs Lin Chun-yi (Tpe).
Women's doubles: Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn) vs Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee (Kor).
Women's singles: An Se-young (Kor) vs Wang Zhiyi (Chn)
Men's doubles: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (Mas) vs Kim Won-ho-Seo Seung-jae (Kor).
