PETALING JAYA: They have been together for nine years, they have been world champions and won an Olympic bronze.
But at the upcoming Japan Open, Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will not be playing together.
The pair, who have had a poor run in the past year, have been split up and will have new partners in Japan.
The big question, though, is: are they being split up for good or is it just a temporary measure?
National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said the move was aimed at giving both players a new challenge in the hope of helping them rediscover their best form.
Wooi Yik will partner Man Wei Chong at the Japan Open from July 14-19, while Aaron will team up with Tee Kai Wun.
However, Aaron-Kai Wun are unlikely to make the main draw as they are currently 13th on the reserve list.
Rexy, however, said no final decision has been made on whether Aaron and Wooi Yik would be split up permanently, although he has held discussions with men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi.
“Herry discussed with me the possibility of creating a new environment with new partners. There has been no final decision,” said Rexy.
Although Aaron-Wooi Yik finished runners-up at the Malaysian Open and All-England this season, they have not won a title since capturing the Singapore Open crown in June last year.
Their struggles have become more evident in recent weeks.
The pair failed to defend their Singapore Open title last week after crashing out in the quarter-finals before suffering another surprise defeat in the second round of the Indonesian Open on Thursday against Indonesia’s young pair Nikolaus Joaquin-Raymond Indra.
Herry had hinted last month that a major reshuffle was on the cards for the men’s doubles department after the Australian Open, which will be held from June 9-14.
At the time, however, he stressed that Aaron-Wooi Yik would not be affected given their status as the national team’s top men’s doubles pair.
For the record, Wooi Yik and Wei Chong have played together before, having represented Malaysia at the SEA Games in Thailand last December.
Aaron, meanwhile, has partnered Kai Wun on several occasions, including in Malaysia’s tie against Japan at the Thomas Cup Finals in Horsens last month. The pair also captured the gold medal for Melaka at the 2018 Malaysia Games (Sukma).
