Ningbo, April 12 – Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik delivered a sensational performance to silence the home crowd at the 2025 Badminton Asia Championships (BAC), overpowering China’s second-seeded duo Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in straight sets.
Watch: Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik vs. Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang – 2025 BAC Semifinal
Backed by a sea of Chinese fans inside the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center, Aaron-Wooi Yik showed no signs of nerves, dominating from the outset with confident, aggressive play. They cruised to a 21-12, 21-14 victory in just 31 minutes, avenging their two previous losses to the same pair at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The former world champions looked tactically sharp and mentally prepared, thanks in part to guidance from head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi, executing flawless net control and offensive precision that disrupted the rhythm of the Chinese duo.
Final Showdown Awaits Against Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi
Aaron-Wooi Yik are now through to their second BAC final after previously finishing runners-up in 2022. They will face either China’s Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi or Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando-Bagas Maulana, with Chen/Liu later defeating the Indonesians 13-21, 21-18, 21-12 to set up a blockbuster final clash on Sunday.
Other BAC Highlights:
Men’s Singles Final: Lu Guang Zu vs. Kunlavut Vitidsarn
China’s Lu Guang Zu pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat teammate Li Shi Feng in a gripping three-game semifinal battle, winning 19-21, 21-10, 21-14 in 78 minutes. He will now face Thailand’s 2023 World Champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who downed Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew 23-21, 21-10.
This marks the first-ever BAC men’s singles final appearance for both Lu and Kunlavut.
Women’s Singles Update:
China’s Chen Yu Fei continued her strong run, defeating Korea’s Sim Yu Jin 21-11, 21-11 to reach the final. She now faces her teammate Han Yue for a shot at her first-ever Asian Championship title, especially in the absence of world No. 1 An Se Young.
Women’s Doubles Final:
Japan’s Olympic bronze medalists Chiharu Shida / Nami Matsuyama cruised past China’s world champs Chen Qing Chen / Jia Yi Fan with a 21-17, 21-10 upset. Ranked No. 3 in the world, Shida/Matsuyama aim to win their first BAC title following their All England 2025 victory.
Mixed Doubles Final: The final showdown features Tang Chun Man / Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong versus Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa / Natsu Saito, setting up a classic East Asian duel for the gold.
