New Delhi, India: Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have guaranteed themselves another BWF World Championships medal after producing a commanding straight-game victory in the men’s doubles quarterfinals in New Delhi.
The Malaysian pair defeated China’s world No. 26 combination Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi 21-11, 21-17 to move into the semifinals and ensure at least a bronze medal at the 2026 World Championships.
It will be Aaron and Soh’s third World Championships medal together following their historic gold in 2022 and bronze in 2023.
The former world champions will now face defending champions and world No. 1 pair Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea for a place in the final.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik Control Quarterfinal From Start
Aaron and Soh entered the quarterfinal well rested after receiving a walkover in the previous round when Malaysian teammates Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun withdrew.
Tee was unable to compete because of illness, allowing Aaron and Soh to progress without taking the court.
The additional recovery appeared to benefit the Malaysians against Hu and Lin.
Aaron and Soh quickly established control of the opening game, using their experience, defensive organization and attacking pressure to prevent the young Chinese pair from settling into the contest.
The Malaysians took the first game comfortably 21-11.
Hu and Lin offered more resistance in the second game, but Aaron and Soh remained in front and stayed composed when the Chinese pair attempted to close the gap.
A 21-17 victory completed the straight-game win and sent the Malaysians into the last four.
- Winners: Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia
- Defeated: Hu Ke Yuan/Lin Xiang Yi of China
- Score: 21-11, 21-17
- Round: Men’s doubles quarterfinal
- Result: Aaron-Soh advance to the semifinals and secure a medal
Third World Championships Medal for Aaron-Soh
Reaching the semifinals adds another chapter to Aaron and Soh’s impressive record at badminton’s biggest individual championship.
The Malaysians made history in Tokyo in 2022 when they became the first players from their country to win a senior BWF World Championships title.
They followed that achievement with a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships in Copenhagen.
Now, after advancing to the semifinals in New Delhi, they are guaranteed a third medal together.
Aaron and Soh have competed in six editions of the World Championships, and success at the tournament has become increasingly familiar.
Aaron suggested after the quarterfinal that reaching another semifinal no longer carries the same sense of novelty it once did.
“Honestly, for us, I don’t think it feels particularly special because we have already played in six World Championships.”
Instead, Aaron said the tournament is also part of a wider process of preparing for the major events that follow.
Reunion Comes With Less Pressure
The 2026 World Championships are also unusual for Aaron and Soh because they arrived in New Delhi shortly after spending around two months apart.
Malaysia’s men’s doubles coaching team had temporarily separated the long-established partnership as part of a wider experiment involving several new combinations.
Aaron competed with Aaron Tai, while Soh also spent time working with different partners.
According to Soh, the separation may actually have helped remove some of the pressure that had followed them during years of competing together.
“We were separated for two months. This time when we came here, I think we had no pressure because the other pairs are also playing well.”
Soh added that after carrying expectations for so many years as one of Malaysia’s leading men’s doubles pairs, their return to the World Championships has felt more relaxed.
That lighter mindset has so far produced another medal.
Semifinal Against Defending Champions Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae
The challenge becomes significantly more difficult in the semifinals.
Aaron and Soh will face defending champions Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea.
The Korean world No. 1 pair advanced after defeating another Malaysian combination, Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, in the quarterfinals.
Kim and Seo currently hold the advantage in their head-to-head record against Aaron and Soh, leading 3-1.
For the Malaysians, reaching the semifinal has already guaranteed another medal, but victory over the defending champions would put them within one match of reclaiming the world title they first won four years ago.
Aaron-Soh Give Herry Iman Pierngadi Special Birthday Present
The quarterfinal victory also came on a meaningful day for national men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi.
Friday marked Herry’s 64th birthday, and Aaron-Soh securing a World Championships medal provided the experienced Indonesian coach with an ideal present.
Herry has enjoyed extensive success at the World Championships throughout his coaching career, having guided Indonesian players to five world titles.
However, in his first World Championships campaign with Malaysia in Paris last year, he was unable to guide the country’s men’s doubles players onto the podium.
Aaron and Soh have now changed that in New Delhi.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Fall to World No. 1 Pair
Malaysia was unable to put a second men’s doubles pair into the semifinals after Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were beaten by Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae.
The world No. 6 Malaysians lost 16-21, 16-21 after 41 minutes.
Sze Fei and Izzuddin had previously shown that they were capable of beating the Korean pair, recording victories against them at last year’s India Open and again at the Indonesia Open three months ago.
This time, however, Kim and Seo were more consistent at the important stages of both games.
- Winners: Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae of South Korea
- Defeated: Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin Rumsani of Malaysia
- Score: 21-16, 21-16
- Match duration: 41 minutes
Sze Fei Says Malaysians Lost Rhythm Late in Both Games
Sze Fei felt the Malaysians had started both games reasonably well but were unable to maintain the same quality once the rallies and pressure increased.
He admitted that too many unforced errors prevented them from keeping pace with the defending champions.
“Overall, we didn’t play too badly, but in the second half of both games we couldn’t keep up with their rhythm and made too many unforced errors.”
Sze Fei also felt the Korean pair were stronger than in some of their previous meetings.
With the victory, Kim and Seo improved their head-to-head record against Sze Fei and Izzuddin to 4-2.
Best World Championships Result for Sze Fei-Izzuddin
Despite the disappointment of missing out on a medal, reaching the quarterfinals represented Sze Fei and Izzuddin’s best World Championships result as a partnership.
The Malaysians had previously exited in the round of 16 in 2021, 2022 and 2025.
Izzuddin highlighted the Koreans’ consistency as one of the biggest differences in the quarterfinal, particularly their ability to repeatedly turn solid rallies into points.
For Sze Fei and Izzuddin, the result represents progress even though their medal challenge ended one round short of the semifinals.
Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang Reach Other Men’s Doubles Semifinal
The other men’s doubles semifinal will feature China’s third seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang against Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan.
That leaves four countries represented in the men’s doubles semifinals:
- Malaysia: Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik
- South Korea: Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae
- China: Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang
- Chinese Taipei: Lee Jhe-Huei/Yang Po-Hsuan
Chou Tien Chen Makes World Championships History at 36
There was also major badminton news in men’s singles as 36-year-old Chou Tien Chen reached the World Championships semifinals for the first time since 2022.
The Chinese Taipei veteran defeated Indonesia’s 11th seed Alwi Farhan 21-15, 21-15.
The result secured Chou at least a bronze medal and made him the oldest men’s singles player to reach a World Championships semifinal.
- Winner: Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei
- Defeated: Alwi Farhan of Indonesia
- Score: 21-15, 21-15
- Achievement: World Championships semifinalist at age 36
It is Chou’s second World Championships medal and gives him an opportunity to add another major achievement to an already lengthy career.
Chou Tien Chen Also Chasing World No. 1 Ranking
Chou’s semifinal run carries added significance because the men’s singles world No. 1 ranking is also within reach.
Shi Yuqi’s first-round defeat in New Delhi means the Chinese star is set to surrender the top position, opening the door for several challengers.
That race has narrowed considerably as the tournament has progressed.
Christo Popov was eliminated in the opening round, while Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Denmark’s Anders Antonsen both exited in the quarterfinals. Jonatan Christie had already been eliminated in the round of 16.
Chou entered the semifinals with an estimated 86,580 ranking points.
According to the current projection, a victory in his semifinal would lift him to approximately 88,580 points and move him ahead of Jonatan Christie’s current 87,631-point total.
If that scenario plays out, the 36-year-old would become the first player from Chinese Taipei to reach world No. 1 in men’s singles.
Chou Tien Chen Faces Kodai Naraoka in Semifinal
Standing between Chou and a place in the World Championships final is Japan’s Kodai Naraoka.
A victory would not only give Chou the opportunity to compete for the world title but could also send him to the top of the world rankings for the first time in his career.
At 36, reaching No. 1 for the first time would add another remarkable chapter to one of badminton’s longest-running elite careers.
Victor Lai-Alex Lanier Set for Other Men’s Singles Semifinal
The other men’s singles semifinal will feature Canada’s Victor Lai and France’s Alex Lanier.
Seventh seed Lai has already produced a strong run in New Delhi, while ninth seed Lanier continues to establish himself among the leading young players in international badminton.
- Semifinal: Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei vs Kodai Naraoka of Japan
- Semifinal: Victor Lai of Canada vs Alex Lanier of France
2026 World Championships Men’s Doubles Semifinals
- Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia vs Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae of South Korea
- Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang of China vs Lee Jhe-Huei/Yang Po-Hsuan of Chinese Taipei
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik Chase Another World Championships Final
Aaron and Soh arrived in New Delhi after months of uncertainty surrounding Malaysia’s men’s doubles restructuring, but they have once again found themselves in familiar territory at the World Championships.
Six appearances at the tournament have brought a world title, another bronze medal and now at least one more podium finish.
The quarterfinal victory over Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi was convincing, but the next challenge will demand an even higher level.
Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae are the defending champions, the world No. 1 pair and have the better recent head-to-head record against the Malaysians.
For Aaron and Soh, however, the pressure may be lower than in previous campaigns. Their temporary separation appears to have changed the way they are approaching tournaments together, and that relaxed mindset has already helped carry them back into the medal rounds.
One more victory would put Malaysia’s 2022 world champions back in a World Championships final — and give them the opportunity to fight for badminton’s biggest individual title once again.
