What was meant to be a historic moment turned into heartbreak for Malaysian badminton fans.
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, Malaysia’s golden boys in men’s doubles, came up short in the China Open Super 1000 final, falling to Indonesia’s surprise duo Fajar Alfian and Shohibul Fikri in a straight-sets defeat — 15-21, 14-21. The match lasted just 34 minutes, but the disappointment will linger far longer.
A Rare Miss for Malaysia’s No. 1 Pair
This wasn’t just any final. This was a chance to lift their first-ever Super 1000 crown — the highest tier on the BWF World Tour. Fans had every reason to believe this was Aaron-Wooi Yik’s moment, especially after a dominant run through the tournament.
But the Indonesian pair — playing in just their second tournament together — had other plans.
From the first serve, Fajar and Shohibul came out firing, applying relentless pressure and never letting the Malaysian duo settle into rhythm.
A Year of Highs… and This One Low
To be fair, 2025 has been nothing short of impressive for Aaron-Wooi Yik:
- 🥇 Thailand Open Champions
- 🥇 Singapore Open Champions
- 🥇 Badminton Asia Championships Winners
- 🥈 China Open Runners-up
That’s four finals this year alone — and they’ve now reached 13 career World Tour finals, with four titles to show. Even in defeat, that kind of consistency puts them among the world’s elite.
The Numbers
Despite the loss, Aaron-Wooi Yik walk away with US$70,000 (RM295,146) in prize money. Meanwhile, the Indonesian pair bagged US$148,000 (RM624,000) and a career-defining win. But for Aaron and Wooi Yik — this wasn’t about money. It was about legacy.
What’s Next?
The loss at the China Open will sting, no doubt. But with the Paris Olympics on the horizon, this could just be the wake-up call they need. They remain Malaysia’s best hope for a major international men’s doubles gold — and fans will be watching, and hoping, every step of the way.
Final Thoughts from Wewin
Even the best stumble. Aaron and Wooi Yik are still on a red-hot streak this year, and one final loss doesn’t change that. We don’t just bet on matches — we bet on heart, fight, and bounce-back energy. And this pair still has it all.
