Malaysia’s hopes of retaining the men’s doubles crown at the Singapore Open 2026 came to a disappointing end after defending champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik crashed out in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The world No. 2 pair were outplayed 21-15, 21-15 by China’s dangerous combination Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang in straight games at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The defeat marked another frustrating chapter in Aaron-Wooi Yik’s increasingly difficult rivalry against the Chinese duo, who once again showcased their tactical sharpness and relentless attacking quality to extend their dominance in the head-to-head record.
From the opening exchanges, Liang-Wang controlled the tempo with aggressive net play and quick transitions, preventing the Malaysians from finding their usual rhythm throughout the 39-minute encounter.
Aaron-Wooi Yik struggled to break down the disciplined Chinese defence, while unforced errors at crucial moments allowed their opponents to maintain control in both games.
The loss also halted the Malaysian pair’s impressive streak of deep runs in elite-level tournaments.
Before the Singapore disappointment, Aaron-Wooi Yik had reached three consecutive Super 1000 and Super 750 semi-finals or better, including runners-up finishes at the Malaysia Open 2026 and the All England Open 2026.
They also arrived in Singapore as defending champions after capturing the title at last year’s edition, further raising expectations surrounding their campaign this week.
Despite the early exit, the Malaysian duo remain among the strongest contenders on the world stage and are still regarded as one of the leading men’s doubles partnerships heading into the second half of the season.
Credit Photo : SBA
