Hong Kong – Malaysia’s world No. 2 men’s doubles pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, suffered a stunning early-round exit at the 2025 Hong Kong Open, raising alarms within the Malaysian national badminton setup.
In just 28 minutes, the top-seeded duo were defeated in straight sets 13-21, 13-21 by England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy—a result that marked their fifth first-round loss of the season.
Malaysia’s national men’s doubles coach Herry Iman Pierngadi voiced deep concern after the match, acknowledging a steady decline in the pair’s form since the 2025 World Championships in Paris, where they only reached the quarterfinals.
“Yes, Aaron and Wooi Yik’s performance has clearly dipped. They’re making too many unforced errors. Since Paris, it’s been obvious that something is off,” said Herry, who took over as coach in early 2025.
Herry emphasized that excuses such as court drift or conditions can no longer justify their recent struggles.
“When I first joined the team in February, their performance was strong. But now, they’re giving away too many points, and we can’t blame the venue anymore.”
This latest loss adds to a worrying trend that includes first-round exits at the Orléans Masters, All England Open, Indonesia Open, and Japan Open—all high-profile tournaments on the BWF World Tour.
Opportunity for Rising Pairs
While disappointed with the Chia-Soh slump, Herry pointed out that it opens the door for younger pairs to step up.
Earlier in the same tournament, Malaysia’s No. 20 pair Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Yap Roy King stunned world No. 4 pair Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen from Denmark with a 21-19, 23-21 upset—proving that Malaysia still has strong depth in men’s doubles.
Another promising duo, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, also advanced, showing consistency and hunger for the spotlight.
“This is the time for other pairs to prove themselves,” said Herry. “While I am worried about Aaron and Wooi Yik, I’m also encouraged by the breakthroughs of our younger pairs.”
