KUCHING: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has unveiled a series of new men’s doubles combinations set to debut at the upcoming Asian tournaments, signalling a fresh experiment within the national setup.
According to a statement by BAM, the temporary reshuffle will be introduced across the China Open, Taipei Open and Korea Open, with Aaron Chia partnering Aaron Tai, while Man Wei Chong will team up with Soh Wooi Yik.
Tee Kai Wun is set to pair with Yap Roy King, while Wan Arif Wan Junaidi will join forces with Kang Khai Xing.
For the Japan Open, BAM will once again tweak the combinations.
Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik will remain together, while Wan Arif will pair with Yap Roy King and Kang Khai Xing will partner Aaron Tai.
The announcement marks a notable departure from Malaysia’s established men’s doubles partnerships, particularly involving former world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.
The move comes amid ongoing efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s men’s doubles depth and evaluate potential combinations ahead of a packed international calendar.
Among the most intriguing pairings is the partnership between Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai, which combines one of Malaysia’s most experienced doubles players with one of the country’s emerging talents.
Equally noteworthy is the temporary alliance of Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong, bringing together two players known for their attacking instincts and front-court aggression.
While the reshuffle is understood to be tournament-specific, the upcoming events will provide BAM with a valuable opportunity to assess chemistry, adaptability and long-term potential among the new combinations.
The experimental pairings are scheduled to begin their campaign at the China Open before continuing through the Taipei Open, Korea Open and Japan Open.
