Malaysia’s newly-formed men’s doubles partnership of Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai delivered another encouraging performance on the international stage despite falling just short of lifting their maiden title together at the 2026 Taiwan Open.
The Malaysian pair finished as runners-up after suffering a 21-23, 19-21 defeat to Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin in a thrilling 42-minute final of the BWF Super 300 tournament.
Seeded fifth, Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai showed impressive resilience throughout the championship and pushed the Indonesian eighth seeds all the way in the title clash. The opening game was a fiercely contested battle that extended into extra points, but the Malaysians were unable to convert several crucial opportunities before narrowly conceding the game 23-21.
Determined to force a deciding game, the Malaysian duo responded with another spirited display in the second set. However, Leo and Daniel demonstrated greater composure during the decisive rallies, edging out the contest 21-19 to secure the championship.
Although the title slipped away, the tournament represented another major step forward for Malaysia’s newest men’s doubles combination. Formed as part of the national coaching team’s long-term restructuring plans, Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai have quickly shown encouraging chemistry and competitiveness against some of the world’s strongest pairs.
Their journey to the final included a remarkable semi-final comeback against home favourites Chen Cheng Kuan and Liu Kuang Heng, where they recovered from losing the opening game to claim a memorable 24-26, 21-19, 21-16 victory.
While the wait for their first title together continues, Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai leave Taipei with growing confidence and valuable momentum. Their runners-up finish reinforces the belief that Malaysia’s newest partnership has the quality and potential to become a serious contender on the BWF World Tour in the months ahead.
Credit Photo : Taipei Open
