In a development that has sent massive shockwaves through the local sports community, Malaysia’s premier men’s doubles partnership, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, have been split up for the upcoming Japan Open.

The stunning separation was revealed following the release of the tournament’s official main and qualifying (M&Q) entry list by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Friday.

The historic duo, currently ranked World No. 3, have been partnered continuously since 2017.

They stand as one of Malaysia’s most decorated badminton pairs, having secured a historic World Championship title in Tokyo in 2022 alongside back-to-back Olympic bronze medals from Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

The New Pairings Breakdown

According to the official BWF registration data, both players will anchor completely different experimental partnerships for the Super 750 tournament, which is scheduled to take place from July 14 to 19.

• Soh Wooi Yik will team up with Man Wei Chong. This newly minted combination has been seeded straight into the main draw, sitting at No. 8.
• Aaron Chia will partner Tee Kai Wun. However, because of their initial ranking points as a new pair, Aaron and Kai Wun have been placed as Reserve No. 13, meaning they face a strong possibility of missing out on the tournament altogether unless major withdrawals occur.

The restructuring effectively splits Malaysia’s top pair while temporarily dismantling the established World No. 6 combination of Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun. Interestingly, registration checks indicate that no other national men’s doubles combinations have been altered for the Japan Open.

A Complete Coach Herry U-Turn?

The tactical bombshell has caught fans and analysts completely off guard, especially given recent public assurances from the coaching staff.

National men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi had stressed in April and May that Aaron and Wooi Yik were entirely secure as the nation’s undisputed top pair. While Coach Herry explicitly hinted that a major post-Australian Open reshuffle was on the cards for other doubles pairs under his care, he originally maintained that the former world champions would remain untouched.

The abrupt shift in strategy follows a highly disappointing string of performances from the veteran pair, capped by a shock second-round exit at the Indonesia Open on Thursday (June 4), where they fell unexpectedly to Indonesia’s lower-ranked Nikolaus Joaquin and Raymond Indra.

BAM Silent on Long-Term Strategy

The sudden registration has sparked immense speculation across local badminton circles regarding the future trajectory of the national squad.

As of Friday afternoon, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and the national coaching setup have yet to issue an official statement clarifying whether these new experimental pairings are merely temporary tactical trials or form part of a permanent, long-term restructuring project.

Compounding the national squad’s shakeup in Japan, the mixed doubles department will also feature a makeshift pair.

Chen Tang Jie is registered to play alongside Clarissa Tan, following a devastating partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear suffered by his regular partner, Toh Ee Wei, at the Singapore Open.

All eyes now turn to BAM and Coach Herry to explain the rationale behind separating Malaysia’s leading Olympic heroes.