KUALA LUMPUR — Defending a title is always harder than winning it for the first time, and that is exactly the challenge facing Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik as they prepare for the 2026 Badminton Asia Championships.
Malaysia men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has reminded the pair that defending their Asian Championships title will be much more difficult, especially with strong competition expected in Ningbo, China from April 7 to April 12.
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, currently ranked world No. 2, made history last year by winning the Badminton Asia Championships title, ending Malaysia’s 18-year wait for the men’s doubles crown.
Defending Champion Faces More Pressure
According to Herry Iman Pierngadi, the pressure of defending a title can affect a player’s mindset. When chasing a title, players often feel they have nothing to lose, but when defending a championship, the mental pressure becomes much higher.
He explained that players often think about not wanting to lose after winning the title previously, which can create unnecessary pressure and affect performance on court.
Because of this, Herry believes that winning a title is often easier than defending one.
Focus on Improving Against Korean Rivals
Despite the pressure, Herry still believes Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have a strong chance to perform well at the Badminton Asia Championships, but only if they improve their performance level, especially against their main rivals from Korea, Seo Seung Jae and Kim Won Ho.
Earlier in the 2026 badminton season, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik reached the finals of both the Malaysia Open Super 1000 and the All England Super 1000 tournaments, but lost both finals to the Korean pair.
These losses showed that the Malaysian pair still need to raise their level if they want to beat the world’s top men’s doubles team.
Using Match Videos to Improve Strategy
Herry Iman Pierngadi revealed that the coaching team has been reviewing match videos, especially past matches against Seo Seung Jae and Kim Won Ho, to identify mistakes and tactical weaknesses.
He believes video analysis helps players understand their mistakes more clearly compared to just listening to coaching instructions. By watching match footage, players can see and hear the analysis at the same time, making it easier to learn and improve their tactics.
The goal is to help Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik adjust their strategy and perform better when they meet top opponents again.
Tough Competition Awaits at Badminton Asia Championships
As the second seeds in the tournament, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will face a difficult opening match against Taiwan’s Olympic champion Wang Chi Lin and his partner Chiu Hsiang Chieh, who are currently ranked world No. 12.
Herry emphasized that many of the world’s top men’s doubles pairs will be competing at the Badminton Asia Championships, so the Malaysian pair must treat every match seriously.
Malaysia will have four men’s doubles pairs competing in the tournament, including Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun, Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin, and other national pairs aiming to make a deep run in the competition.
With strong rivals and the pressure of defending their title, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will need to be at their best if they want to win another major badminton title this season.
Stay tuned for more badminton news and updates from the world of badminton.
