Kuala Lumpur: Just six days before the 2025 BWF World Badminton Championships kick off in Paris, Malaysia’s men’s doubles team has hit a worrying snag. Rising shuttler Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, who is set to make his debut at the world event alongside Yap Roy King, is recovering from illness, raising concerns in the national camp.
The 23-year-old missed Monday’s training due to fever and fatigue, and although he returned to court on Tuesday, his performance was limited.
“Arif had a fever and flu, so he couldn’t train yesterday. He came back today but could only complete two of the planned drills. He’s not at 100% yet, but I hope he’ll fully recover by tomorrow,” said Malaysia’s men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi, after a training session at the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Academy.
🇲🇾 Four Malaysian Pairs to Represent in Paris
Malaysia will send four men’s doubles pairs to Paris:
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Aaron Chia / Soh Wooi Yik (World No. 2)
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Man Wei Chong / Tee Kai Wun (World No. 7)
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Goh Sze Fei / Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (World No. 3, professional pair)
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Wan Arif / Yap Roy King (World No. 22, debut appearance)
Despite Arif’s recent success — including winning their first BWF World Tour title at the Macau Open earlier this month — Herry admitted that the timing of his health setback is far from ideal.
“Yes, I’m worried. But based on what I saw today, I believe he’ll recover in time to play,” Herry said.
Their first match will be against Japan’s Kenya Mitsuhashi / Hiroki Okamura (World No. 34). If Arif isn’t fully fit, the opener could be a tough test.
🎥 Video Analysis Is Team Malaysia’s Secret Weapon
Beyond fitness, match analysis is the key focus in Malaysia’s preparation. Coach Herry, known as the “Dragon Fire” of BAM, said that video reviews of recent matches have become crucial in gaining a competitive edge.
“Men’s doubles competition is incredibly tight right now. Every small edge matters. That’s why video analysis is so important — to spot tendencies and weaknesses in opponents,” he said.
Malaysia’s coaches focus on footage no older than three to four months, using tournaments like the Japan Open and China Open for insights.
This approach has already benefitted pairs like Man Wei Chong / Tee Kai Wun, who are expected to face World No. 1 Koreans Kim Won Ho / Seo Seung Jae in the quarterfinals. While they’ve lost both previous encounters, they pushed the Korean pair to three games in Japan last month.
“We broke down that match: we lost the first game but won the second. What changed? From that, we built a game plan. Videos help players remember what works — and what doesn’t,” Herry explained.
🥈 Aaron Chia/ Soh Wooi Yik Still Malaysia’s Best Hope
Top seeds Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, the 2022 World Champions, remain Malaysia’s strongest medal contenders. They also claimed bronze at the 2023 edition in Copenhagen.
But Herry cautioned that there are no easy paths in this year’s field.
“Yes, being seeded helps. But at this level, anything can happen. Pairs from Korea, Indonesia, China, and Denmark are all strong. Sometimes it comes down to luck in the draw, but preparation is everything.”
With Arif battling to regain form, and Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik aiming to reclaim their world title, Malaysia’s men’s doubles squad enters the 2025 World Championships with both promise and pressure.
Herry remains confident that with the right preparation, smart analysis, and mental focus, Malaysia can once again rise to the top.
