MALAYSIA’S top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik have moved within touching distance of ending the country’s long wait for an All-England title after storming into the final of the 2026 edition in Birmingham.
The world number two duo secured their place in the championship match with a straight-games victory over China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi, winning 21-11, 21-19 in the semi-finals early Sunday.
Aaron and Wooi Yik produced a commanding display in the opening game, asserting control from the outset and dictating the pace with sharp attacking play and solid defence.
Their dominance allowed them to close out the first game comfortably at 21-11.
The second game, however, proved far more competitive as the Chinese pair mounted a determined challenge and briefly seized the initiative.
At one stage the Malaysian duo trailed 15-18, but they remained composed under pressure, rallying to level the score at 18-18 before finishing strongly to seal the game and the match 21-19.
The victory further strengthened Aaron and Wooi Yik’s head-to-head record against Chen and Liu, improving it to four wins from five meetings.
More significantly, their progression to the final puts the Malaysian pair on the brink of delivering the country’s first men’s doubles All England title in nearly two decades.
The last Malaysian pair to lift the prestigious trophy at the world’s oldest badminton tournament were Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, who triumphed in 2007. - March 8, 2026
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