KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia badminton player Ong Yew Sin could be set for a new chapter in his badminton career following his split with long-time men’s doubles partner Teo Ee Yi, with reports suggesting he may switch to mixed doubles and potentially partner his wife, former Japan singles player Aya Ohori.
The recent separation of Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi came after Teo Ee Yi signed a new sponsorship deal and confirmed he will partner Chia Wei Jie for the upcoming Thailand Open. Meanwhile, Ong Yew Sin, who is sponsored by Li-Ning, has not confirmed a new men’s doubles partner and is expected to miss the tournament.
Possible Switch to Mixed Doubles
With no immediate men’s doubles partnership announced, speculation is growing that Ong Yew Sin may transition into mixed doubles. If he partners Aya Ohori, the husband-and-wife pairing would quickly become one of the most talked-about partnerships in badminton.
Aya Ohori, who previously represented Japan in women’s singles, once reached a career-high world ranking of No. 7 and was one of Japan’s top singles players before stepping away from competitive badminton.
Ong Yew Sin Has Mixed Doubles Experience
Although Ong Yew Sin is best known as a men’s doubles player, he has experience competing in mixed doubles in the past. He previously partnered Olympic silver medalist Goh Liu Ying and reached the quarterfinals of the 2022 Korea Open. At one point, the pair climbed to world No. 95 in the mixed doubles rankings.
Ong Yew Sin has also partnered other mixed doubles players including Shevon Jemie Lai and Peck Yen Wei in various badminton tournaments.
Aya Ohori Could Return to Competitive Badminton
Although Aya Ohori has stepped away from professional competition, she is believed to still be in good physical condition, and a return to badminton competition is not out of the question.
Interestingly, Aya Ohori also competed in mixed doubles earlier in her career, including at the World Junior Championships, meaning she already has experience in the discipline.
If Ong Yew Sin and Aya Ohori decide to compete together, the pair could become one of the most unique husband-and-wife partnerships in international badminton.
Stay tuned for more badminton news and updates from the world of badminton.
