National men’s doubles top pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik lived up to expectations by safely advancing into the second round of the Malaysia Open 2026 after a comfortable straight-games victory at the Axiata Arena today.
The Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallists showed their class from the outset, dominating the opening game 21-11 against United States representatives Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith, with sharp attacking play and solid court control.
The second game offered a sterner test as the American duo raised their intensity and briefly took the lead at 19-16, threatening to extend the contest. However, the world No. 2 pair remained composed, capitalising on unforced errors from their opponents to draw level at 19-19 before closing out the match 21-19.
The second-seeded Malaysians sealed the win in 35 minutes, extending their winning head-to-head record against the US pair and reinforcing their status as one of the tournament favourites.
With confidence building in front of home fans, Aaron and Wooi Yik will now look to carry this momentum deeper into the Super 1000 event as they continue their quest for a strong start to the 2026 season.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
