More experiments for Aaron, Wooi Yik with different partners in China

Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will go their separate ways with different partners at the upcoming China Masters next week, with plenty of questions surrounding their future as a pair.

Finishing as runners-up at the recent World Championships brought more questions than answers to the country’s top pair.

What is clear for now is: Chia & Soh will not play together anymore this year.

While Chia-Soh have said they prefer to stick together especially in their push to win an Olympic gold in 2028, the decision is not theirs.

With national doubles chief Herry Iman Pierngaldi already decided on experimenting, both shuttlers are set to undergo a big test in their careers.

At the China Masters, Chia will team up against Man Wei Chong, while Soh partners Aaron Tai.

This is a direct swap between both pairings which saw Chia-Tai partner to reach the Taipei Open final, while Soh-Man also combined to finish second at the Korea Masters.

After the China Masters, the World Tour action takes a break as the national shuttlers prepare for the upcoming Asian Games (Sept 19-Oct 4) in Japan.

Soh is not even listed as part of the team, and he admitted being surprised at the decision to leave him out of the Asian Games.

Chia is part of the contingent, but he will play with yet another new partner in Tee Kai Wun.

This experiment is set to go on until end of the year until the national coaches decide on the best partnerships.

National performance committee chairman Lee Chong Wei has given his support to Pierngaldi’s decision, while urging any players who aren’t happy to speak to the management instead of making their own decisions.

What is certain, is the remaining months of 2026 is set to be a turbulent affair for all the men’s doubles shuttlers involved in this experiment.

It is something they will have to embrace and give their best, for the sake of their careers and Malaysian badminton.