Malaysia reshuffles badminton doubles pairs for 2028 Olympic gold medal bid

Malaysia's national badminton team is undertaking a significant reshuffling of its men's doubles pairings, a strategic move aimed at securing the country's first Olympic gold medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. This decision is not a reflection of lost confidence in existing pairs but rather a forward-looking plan.

National Coaching Director Rexy Mainaky explained that the bold step was taken after extensive discussions with national men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi and the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Performance Committee Chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei. The coaching staff recognized the need to explore new combinations, especially with several young players showing promising development.

"We are looking ahead to 2028. It's not because we have lost faith in Aaron and Wooi Yik, but we also need to look at the young players who have shown much improvement," Mainaky stated. "Why don't we try making new combinations between young and experienced players? Perhaps from these trials, we can see the potential of pairings that can become the nation's backbone."

Under the new plan, Aaron Chia will be paired with Aaron Tai, while Soh Wooi Yik will team up with Man Wei Chong. These new combinations are set to compete in upcoming tournaments such as the China Open, Taiwan Open, and Korea Open. Mainaky emphasized that the evaluation process prioritizes on-court chemistry and tactical needs over player reputation or ranking alone. He stressed that simply pairing two good players does not guarantee success; the crucial factor is how they complement each other's game and fulfill on-court requirements. These new pairings are currently in a trial phase, with their long-term future dependent on their performance in upcoming competitions.