Malaysia’s world No. 2 men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are hoping the third time will be the charm after booking their place in another final at the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships on Saturday.
The Malaysian duo defeated China’s world No. 11 pair Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi 21-11, 21-19 in a 42-minute semi-final clash at the Utilita Arena Birmingham, securing their third opportunity to capture the coveted title.
Aaron and Wooi Yik previously finished as runners-up in 2019 and again in 2024, leaving Birmingham without the trophy on both occasions.
Final Showdown With World No. 1 Koreans
The Malaysians will now face South Korea’s world No. 1 pair Seo Seung Jae and Kim Won Ho in Sunday’s final.
The Korean duo advanced after defeating Indonesia’s world No. 17 partnership Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin 21-19, 21-13 in the other semi-final.
Tactical Adjustment Proves Decisive
Wooi Yik said the Malaysian pair dominated the opening game by controlling the tempo and rhythm of the rallies.
“We did not lift the shuttle too much in the first game and controlled every rally,” he said.
However, he admitted the second game proved more challenging despite the pair building a five-point lead at one stage.
The turning point came after a tactical change during the match, when Wooi Yik moved into a more aggressive position at the front of the court.
“We changed some tactics, especially me moving to the front more,” he said.
“It worked to break their rhythm because when we played drive against them, we didn’t have any advantage.”
Focus On The Title, Not The Pressure
Despite being just one victory away from lifting the title, Aaron said he and his partner are determined to stay focused and not be distracted by past disappointments.
“Wooi Yik and I are not thinking about the opponents. We just want to focus on every point and deliver the All England title to all Malaysians,” he said.
“That’s what has brought us to this level. We just don’t want to think too much. I believe the result will come when we focus more on ourselves rather than the outcome.”
Pearly-Thinaah Fall In Women’s Doubles
In the women’s doubles event, Malaysia’s world No. 2 pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah were eliminated after losing 21-17, 21-18 to South Korea’s world No. 4 duo Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee.
The defeat ended Malaysia’s hopes of a second finalist in the women’s doubles category at the tournament.
