Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, are preparing to defend their continental crown at the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Ningbo, China. National coach Herry IP has stressed that the duo must treat every match as a challenge rather than focusing solely on the world No. 1 pair, Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae.
The BAC format allows only the top four pairs per nation, creating a highly competitive field where even lesser-known duos can pose a threat. Herry IP has highlighted two rising pairs as immediate concerns: China’s Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi, fresh from an Orleans Masters title, and Indonesia’s Raymond Indra-Nikolaus Joaquin, who have already made waves on the global stage.
Raymond and Nikolaus have shown they can compete with the best, winning their first Super 500 title at last year’s Australia Open and causing upsets at the All England Championships by defeating world No. 5 Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri and world No. 3 Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang before losing to eventual champions Kim Won Ho-Seung Jae in the semi-finals. Their rapid rise makes them a dangerous potential obstacle in the quarter-finals.
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik’s campaign begins against Taiwan’s world No. 12 pair, Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin. While they hold a 2-1 head-to-head advantage, Herry IP emphasizes a careful, step-by-step approach to navigate the tournament’s challenging bracket.
The Malaysian pair carries confidence from their recent runner-up finish at the All England Championships. Their performance there demonstrates their elite form and mental toughness. Still, Herry IP reminds them that past results do not guarantee success. Every match, every point, and every shuttle will require complete focus to defend their Badminton Asia title.
