Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik continue to struggle for form after suffering a shock first-round exit at the 2025 Japan Open, losing to fellow Malaysians Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi in straight sets on Tuesday.
Seeded second for the tournament, the world No. 2 duo failed to live up to expectations, falling 15-21, 15-21 in just 30 minutes against their former BAM teammates, now competing independently as professionals.
The defeat marks yet another early-round stumble for the 2022 World Champions, who also crashed out in the first round of the Indonesia Open last month. Their inconsistency has raised concerns with the Olympic qualifying period well underway.
In the opening game, Aaron and Wooi Yik looked out of rhythm and quickly trailed 6-12. Despite a short surge to close the gap at 14-16, they were unable to sustain the pressure as Ong and Teo held firm to take the first set.
The second set mirrored the first, with Aaron-Wooi Yik falling behind 0-4 early. They fought back to level the score at 13-13, but once again faltered in the final stretch, stalling at 15 points as Ong-Teo pulled away to seal the win.
This was the third loss for Aaron-Wooi Yik in nine head-to-head encounters with Ong and Teo, though they still lead the rivalry 6-3 overall.
Notably, Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi won bronze at the 2021 World Championships in Japan, a year before Aaron and Wooi Yik famously claimed the world title at the same venue in 2022.
While the defeat is a setback, it also opens the door for Aaron and Wooi Yik to regroup ahead of next week’s China Open, a BWF Super 1000 event, and the World Championships in Paris this August—two major tournaments that will be crucial for restoring confidence and momentum in their Olympic campaign.
Credit Photo : BAT
