Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 6, 2026: Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have been cleared to compete at next week’s Kumamoto Masters Japan, but their participation in the 2026 BWF World Tour Finals will still depend on Wooi Yik’s recovery from a right heel injury.
Malaysia’s national men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi confirmed that Wooi Yik has resumed training after undergoing rehabilitation and medical examinations. However, the former world champions will not be pushed beyond their physical limits as they pursue qualification for the season-ending tournament in Hangzhou, China.
Soh Wooi Yik Returns to Training but Remains Below Full Fitness
Wooi Yik sustained the injury during the French Open in October, initially experiencing little discomfort during competition before noticing pain afterward.
Although there was some swelling, Herry said the injury was not considered serious and the 28-year-old has made encouraging progress since returning from Europe.
“He has already undergone rehabilitation and consulted doctors. The injury was not too serious, although there was some swelling in his foot,” Herry explained.
“His condition is improving and he has resumed training, but he is still not 100 percent recovered.”
The injury forced Aaron and Wooi Yik to withdraw from the Korea Open after they had already missed the HYLO Open in Germany.
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik Face Tight World Tour Finals Qualification Race
The Malaysian pair currently sit sixth in the BWF World Tour Finals men’s doubles qualification standings with 65,740 points.
Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard are close behind with 65,610 points, followed by Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani on 65,550 points.
China’s Chen Boyang and Liu Yi are also in contention with 64,200 points, making the remaining World Tour tournaments important for the Malaysian pair’s qualification prospects.
The 2026 BWF World Tour Finals will take place from December 9 to 13 in Hangzhou, featuring the season’s leading qualifiers in each category.
Herry acknowledged the importance of competing at the prestigious event but emphasized that his players’ fitness must come first.
“Every player wants to compete in the World Tour Finals because it brings together the top eight pairs,” he said.
“But we need to assess their condition. If they are genuinely ready, we will proceed. Otherwise, we need to discuss the best option.”
2027 Badminton Scoring Changes Also Part of Malaysia’s Preparations
Beyond the World Tour Finals, Herry is already planning Malaysia’s men’s doubles preparations for the proposed 15-point scoring format in 2027.
He indicated that training plans would place greater emphasis on attacking play to prepare players for the shorter games.
For Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, however, the immediate priority remains balancing competitive opportunities with a complete recovery.
The Malaysians are scheduled to return at the Kumamoto Masters Japan from November 10 to 15, followed by the Hong Kong Open from November 17 to 22, as they attempt to secure their place at the BWF World Tour Finals.
