Aaron-Wooi Yik’s World Championships silver not enough to secure permanent pairing, says coach

SEPANG, Aug 25 — National men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has stated that the silver medal win by Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik at the 2026 World Badminton Championships does not ensure their continued pairing in the future. The coach emphasized the need for a thorough evaluation of their performance and that of other combinations before a final decision is made by the end of the year.

While acknowledging the quality of their play as the world No. 4 pair, Herry expressed that a championship title would have been preferable. The pair’s existing chemistry, formed over an extended period, has contributed to their success, but they have been separated for several tournaments before the world event. The 2022 champions conceded the silver medal position to the Chinese pair Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang after a grueling final at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

Herry reiterated that after the championships, Aaron and Wooi Yik would be split up once again, as per the initial strategy. The coaching team will assess the outcomes of other pairings planned for subsequent tournaments to determine their long-term viability. No changes can be made to the Asian Games registrations as the deadline for registration has already been met.