Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, delivered an impressive performance to reach the semi-finals of the 2025 China Open, regaining form at the perfect time ahead of the season’s final stretch.
The duo looked sharp and in control as they outclassed compatriots Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, ranked world No. 7, in a dominant straight-game victory: 21-16, 21-16. The all-Malaysian showdown lasted only 33 minutes at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Changzhou, showcasing Aaron-Wooi Yik’s renewed confidence and rhythm on court.
Their resurgence comes just a week after a shock early-round defeat to fellow Malaysian independents Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi at the Japan Open. That disappointing result appears to have motivated the 2022 World Champions to recalibrate, now looking sharp and focused heading into the later rounds of this Super 1000 event.
“We’re getting back on track at the right time,” said Aaron after the win. “We’ll give our best effort in the semi-final tomorrow. We used to train together with Wei Chong and Kai Wun, so it was more about adapting our strategies at crucial moments.”
Tight Start, Strong Finish
Aaron and Wooi Yik briefly lost focus early in the first game, trailing 4-9, but quickly regrouped to regain control. Wooi Yik noted the need for better starts as the competition progresses:
“We started a bit slow and let them take the lead, which is something we need to improve. But overall, we didn’t overthink it. We just stayed focused on our own rhythm and game plan.”
Despite the loss, Wei Chong and Kai Wun acknowledged the superiority of their senior teammates.
“They executed their strategy really well,” said Wei Chong. “We couldn’t break their rhythm, and they kept us under pressure.”
Kai Wun echoed his partner’s sentiments:
“They stepped up their game in Changzhou. Our return of serves and defense weren’t sharp enough, and we made too many unforced errors. Even though we know each other well, whoever managed the shuttle control better had the upper hand.”
Semi-Final Showdown Awaits
With the win, Aaron and Wooi Yik have now improved their head-to-head record against Wei Chong-Kai Wun to 4-3. They will now face India’s top pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, in a highly anticipated semi-final.
The Indian duo, ranked world No. 12 and reigning Asian Games champions, defeated Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi in their quarter-final clash, 21-18, 21-14 in 40 minutes.
While the matchup is expected to be fierce, Aaron-Wooi Yik hold a commanding 10-3 head-to-head record against Satwik-Chirag, a statistic that may give them a psychological advantage heading into Saturday’s showdown.
Other Semi-Final: Indonesia vs China
On the other side of the draw, China’s world No. 6 pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang will go up against Indonesia’s scratch pair Fajar Alfian and Rian Ardianto. With both semi-finals stacked with elite talent, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to one of the most prestigious badminton tournaments on the calendar.
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