Xiamen, April 25 – Staying true to their tradition, the Malaysian national badminton team was among the first to hit the courts for warm-up sessions ahead of the 2025 Sudirman Cup in Xiamen, China. The newly crowned Asian men’s doubles champions, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, were spotted maintaining their sharp form, determined to help Malaysia achieve a strong result in the prestigious mixed team event.
Only Two Days to Adapt to the Courts
Speaking after their morning training session, 28-year-old Aaron Chia emphasized the importance of maximizing every minute on court.
“Our first group match at the Sudirman Cup is still a few days away, with France up first on Monday. However, we only have two official days of training at the competition venue,” said Aaron.
“Today, we had two courts available and trained for about half an hour. Tomorrow, we’ll have just one court, so we need to make the most out of it.”
Slower Shuttle Speed Inside the Arena
Aaron also noted that the shuttle speed inside the spacious Fenghuang Gymnasium feels slightly slower, adding an extra challenge for players to adjust their timing and rhythm.
“Today’s session was mainly about regaining feel for the court through 2v2 and 3v3 match simulations. With the stadium being so big, the shuttle travels a bit slower. We’ll see how conditions evolve over the next days and continue to adapt,” he said.
Physical Readjustment After Asian Championships Triumph
Fresh off their historic Asian Championships win earlier this month, Soh Wooi Yik, 27, admitted they are still fine-tuning their physical condition.
“The key right now is adjusting our bodies. We had no real rest after the Asian Championships—once we returned to Malaysia, we went straight back into training. Now it’s about recovering properly and gearing up for the Sudirman Cup,” said Soh Wooi Yik.
The Malaysian team began training early Friday morning at the Fenghuang Gymnasium. In a 3v3 practice session, Soh Wooi Yik was seen teaming up with teammates Goh Sze Fei and Man Wei Chong.
Strong Team Cohesion Among Malaysia’s 20-Player Squad
Soh Wooi Yik praised the camaraderie within the team, noting that the 20 players selected are already well-acquainted.
“The chemistry is still very good. We’ve also had 10 solid days of centralized training, and the quality has been consistently high,” he said.
Step-by-Step Approach, No Rush to Focus on Japan
Drawn into Group C alongside powerhouse Japan, France, and Australia, the Malaysian squad is not rushing into thoughts of facing Japan just yet.
“We’re taking it match by match. First, we need to focus on France and Australia to gauge our condition. We’ll leave strategic planning to the coaches,” added Soh Wooi Yik.
All Three Malaysian Men’s Doubles Pairs Ready for Action
Besides Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Malaysia’s men’s doubles strength includes world No. 2 pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and world No. 7 pair Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun.
Aaron Chia stressed that lineup decisions would be tactical.
“All three men’s doubles pairs have a chance to be fielded. It really depends on who our opponents are and what strategy the coaches decide,” he concluded.
