Aaron Chia and Tee Kai Wun eye surprise medal as scratch pair in Nagoya

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — Badminton veteran Aaron Chia harbors hopes that his scratch partnership with Tee Kai Wun could yield a surprise medal for Malaysia at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. The 29-year-old emphasized that they would not be burdened by high expectations as a scratch pair, allowing them to approach the matches calmly.

Aaron's status as an underdog could prove advantageous, as opponents would find it challenging to anticipate their playing style, given their relative inexperience as a team. "We are going there as a scratch pair and underdogs. I think we can play more calmly and we are really hoping for a breakthrough there," he told reporters after a training session.

In July, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) appointed Chia and Tee Kai Wun as the scratch pair, replacing Soh Wooi Yik, who was not selected for the 2026 Asian Games. Aaron had previously clinched the men’s doubles bronze at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games alongside Soh, while Malaysia's last men’s doubles gold at the Asian Games was achieved in 2006 by Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

The men’s doubles competition in Aichi-Nagoya is anticipated to be highly competitive, with world number one pair Kim Won Ho-Seo-Seung Jae of South Korea and 2026 world champions Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang of China among the medal favorites. Aaron Chia will join forces with professional shuttler Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in the men’s doubles event at the 2026 Asian Games, while the entire Malaysia squad for both the men’s doubles and team events has been announced.