KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 — The country’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are on the brink of clinching the Malaysia Open 2026 title as they stormed into tomorrow’s final after a hard-fought victory over their sixth-seeded Indonesian opponents, here yesterday.
In the semi-finals action at a packed Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, the second seeded Aaron-Wooi Yik reached their maiden Malaysia Open final as they came out tops against sixth seeds from Indonesia Fajar Alfian-Muhammad Shohibul Fikri.
The opening game was a nail-biter, with both pairs locked at 21-21, but the former 2022 world champions kept their cool to edge 23-21.
Trailing 10-12 in the second set, the two-time Olympic Games bronze medallists found their rhythm on time to surge ahead 16-12 and sent the home crowd into a frenzy as they sealed the match 21-18 after 50 minutes of intense action.
The result saw the world number two pair presented with a chance to become the first local pair to lift the Malaysia Open men’s doubles title after Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah last won it in the 2014 edition.
Next up for Aaron-Wooi Yik is a title clash with top seeds and defending champions Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea.
Won Ho-Seung Jae progressed to their second consecutive Malaysia Open final after overturning an opening-game deficit to beat England’s Ben Lane-Sean Vendy 8-21, 21-11, 21-18.
Speaking after the match, Aaron Chia expressed delight at returning to a back-to-back final on home soil, recalling last year’s 12-21, 21-15, 16-21 rubber set loss to compatriots Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the Malaysia Masters.
Looking ahead to todays final showdown, Aaron believes both pairs have a fair chance, pointing to their even 1-1 head-to-head record.
