National badminton stars Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik’s hopes of securing a second men’s doubles world title within four years have been dashed after they suffered a straight-game defeat to China’s Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang at the 2026 World Championships.
The world No. 4 Malaysian pair were unable to reproduce the form that took them to the world crown in 2022, going down 17-21, 16-21 to the third-ranked Chinese combination at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
Aaron-Wooi Yik endured a difficult start as Wei Keng-Wang Chang quickly established control in the opening game. The Malaysians attempted to change their approach and find a way back into the contest, but their opponents remained composed and continued to dictate the pace.
Despite the Malaysian pair’s efforts to turn the momentum around, the Chinese duo maintained their grip on the court and eventually sealed the second game 21-16 to complete the victory in 35 minutes.
The latest result further underlined the Chinese pair’s dominance in their head-to-head record, with Wei Keng-Wang Chang now holding a commanding 12-3 advantage over Aaron-Wooi Yik.
For Aaron and Wooi Yik, the defeat also brings an end to their bid to add another world title to their growing list of achievements. The World Championships remain one of badminton’s most prestigious tournaments, carrying the same Grade 1 Major Event status as the Olympic Games.
While the tournament does not offer prize money, the rewards extend beyond the title itself, with substantial ranking points at stake. The champions receive 15,000 points, while the runners-up collect 12,600 and semi-finalists earn 10,500.
Aaron-Wooi Yik made history in 2022 when they became the first Malaysian men’s doubles pairing to win the World Championships, achieving the feat in Tokyo.
Their campaign in the following edition in Copenhagen ended with a bronze medal in 2023. Last year, however, the Malaysians were unable to progress beyond the quarter-finals after losing to India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty.
The latest setback means Aaron-Wooi Yik will have to wait for another opportunity to reclaim the world crown, while their Chinese rivals add another significant victory to an increasingly dominant head-to-head record.
