Newly crowned Asian men’s doubles champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have set their sights on achieving peak performance at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (LA28). The Malaysian duo, fresh off their historic victory at the 2025 Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Ningbo, China, expressed their unwavering ambition for Olympic gold despite already securing bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.
Speaking recently to Bernama, Soh Wooi Yik emphasized their long-term commitment, stating, “We definitely want to continue for another four years until the next Olympics. After Paris 2024, this is our chance to rebuild, and we still have a few more years to prepare for LA28.”
Their recent success at the BAC marks a significant milestone, ending Malaysia’s 18-year title drought in the men’s doubles event at the prestigious continental championship. They clinched the title by defeating China’s Chen Boyang and Liu Yi in a hard-fought final with scores of 21-19, 21-17. The last Malaysian pair to achieve this feat was Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah back in 2007.
Wooi Yik also highlighted their ongoing adaptation to the training methods of their new national men’s doubles head coach, Herry Iman Pierngadi. “He has coached many top players in the past, so we really trust him,” he affirmed.
Despite being in charge for just two months, Herry, affectionately known as ‘The Dragon’, has already made a significant impact. His impressive coaching pedigree includes guiding Indonesian legends Candra Wijaya-Tony Gunawan to gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Hendra Setiawan-Markis Kido to victory at the Beijing 2008 Games. Herry brings with him 31 years of invaluable experience from his time with the Indonesian national badminton squad.
With their maiden regional title secured and a world-renowned coach in their corner, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with as they embark on their journey towards the LA28 Olympics. Their hunger for Olympic glory remains strong, and their recent triumph serves as a powerful testament to their potential on the global stage.