Bangkok – Malaysia’s elite men’s doubles pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, delivered another commanding performance at the 2025 Thailand Open, defeating Thai duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Kittinupong Kedren in straight sets, 21-17, 21-13, to book a place in the final.
Watch Match Highlights of Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik vs. Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Kittinupong Kedren:
Despite a shaky start in front of a roaring home crowd at Bangkok’s Impact Arena, the world No. 5 pair showed composure and tactical maturity to recover quickly. After trailing in the early stages of the first game, they capitalized on a series of unforced errors from their Thai opponents to swing momentum in their favor.
In the second set, Aaron and Wooi Yik tightened their grip on the match, combining net dominance and powerful smashes to dismantle the 16th-ranked Thai pair.
“This wasn’t an easy 38 minutes,” Aaron said post-match. “The crowd was electric, and we were under pressure from the first point. But once we regained focus, we executed our game plan well.”
Wooi Yik echoed his partner’s sentiment, adding, “We had to stay mentally sharp throughout. One lapse, and the momentum could swing. Every point counted.”
This win marks their second final appearance in 2025, having previously clinched the Asia Championships title in March. It’s also their first return to the Thailand Open final since 2020, when they finished runners-up to Taiwan’s Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin.
In Sunday’s final, they will face either Indonesia’s world No. 4 pair Fajar Alfian/Rian Ardianto or Denmark’s rising duo William Kryger Boe/Christian Faust Kjaer, depending on the outcome of the remaining semifinal.
While satisfied with the win, Aaron revealed the duo is still adapting to a new training system under Indonesian coach Herry Iman Pierngadi.
“We’re still learning. Coach Herry has been focusing a lot on our net play and service return strategies. Every match is part of our growth,” Aaron noted.
Meanwhile, in the men’s singles final, Anders Antonsen will challenge Thailand’s top seed and fan favorite Kunlavut Vitidsarn, promising a thrilling conclusion to the Super 500 event.
