PETALING JAYA: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik have been given the green light to resume their partnership after the Asian Games, with the pair set to stay together until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) performance committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei confirmed the decision after meeting both players together with national doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky and men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi on Friday (Aug 28).
Chong Wei said all outstanding issues involving the pair were addressed during the meeting, with Aaron and Wooi Yik both expressing their desire to play together again.
“I spoke to Wooi Yik and Aaron and told them, ‘It’s okay, we close this chapter now. What do you want? What do you need? What can I help you with?’
“Both of them said they wanted to partner with each other again. I spoke to Rexy and we agreed to let them play together again.
“Previously, they had been split and tried out with different partners. But after playing together again at the World Championships, maybe they realised they still want to go for the 2028 Olympics together,” said Chong Wei.
Aaron-Wooi Yik were reunited for the World Championships in New Delhi, where they finished runners-up after losing to China’s Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang in the final.
Chong Wei, however, reminded the pair that they must now stick to their decision after all parties had reached an agreement.
“I told them that if this is what they want, then we will go ahead with it.
“I spoke to Rexy, and after the Asian Games, they will partner each other again, starting with the tournaments in France and Denmark, and continuing until 2028.
“But there cannot be another situation halfway through where there is a problem and they want to change again. This is their own decision," he added.
For now, however, Aaron will partner Man Wei Chong at the China Masters, which begins on Tuesday (Sept 1), while Wooi Yik will team up with Aaron Tai.
The pairings will change again at the Arctic Open next month, with Aaron set to partner Tee Kai Wun and Wooi Yik joining forces with Choong Hon Jian.
Herry had initially introduced the reshuffle and trial pairings in an effort to identify the strongest combinations for Malaysia’s push towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
