Malaysia’s men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are facing a difficult end to the 2026 season, with a persistent heel injury threatening both their tournament schedule and their chances of qualifying for the World Tour Finals.
Wooi Yik has been struggling with a right heel injury sustained during the French Open two weeks ago. The problem forced the world No. 4 pair to retire from their quarter-final match against eventual champions Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, and his condition has yet to improve sufficiently for a return to competition.
As a result, Aaron and Wooi Yik have withdrawn from the Korea Open. National men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi confirmed that the coaching team is monitoring Wooi Yik's recovery, with their participation in the upcoming Kumamoto Masters also in doubt.
"They had to withdraw (from Korea Open) because Wooi Yik's heel injury has not fully recovered. We are monitoring his condition," Herry said.
The coach added that the pair have not officially pulled out of the Kumamoto Masters, but their participation remains uncertain. A decision is expected next week after the team assesses Wooi Yik's progress.
The injury could not have come at a worse time, with the pair still fighting to secure a place at the season-ending World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, scheduled for December 9 to 13. The tournament offers a total prize pool of US$3.5 million, with only the top eight pairs in the World Tour Rankings earning qualification. Each country is also limited to a maximum of two pairs.
Aaron and Wooi Yik have slipped to sixth in the latest rankings, leaving them vulnerable as other contenders close in. Fellow Malaysians Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have already secured their place, while England's Ben Lane and Sean Vendy have climbed to fourth after finishing runners-up at the Hylo Open. Denmark's Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard are seventh, followed by Indonesia's Sabar Karyaman and Moh Reza Isfahani in eighth.
Should Aaron and Wooi Yik miss the Kumamoto Masters, the Hong Kong Open from November 17 to 22 could become a crucial opportunity to collect ranking points and strengthen their qualification chances. However, their ability to compete will depend largely on Wooi Yik's recovery.
The setback also comes as the pair continue their search for a title, having gone 18 months without winning a tournament. Despite remaining among the world's top-ranked combinations, they have struggled to turn consistent performances into a championship victory.
With fewer tournaments left in the season, the pressure is mounting. Their immediate priority will be to ensure Wooi Yik recovers fully, but any prolonged absence could leave the Malaysian pair with a much tougher task in their bid to end the year on a high.
