KUALA LUMPUR — Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) performance committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei confirmed that the country’s top doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will return to team up again after the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games from Sept 19 to Oct 4.

Chong Wei said the decision was reached as a result of a ‘heart-to-heart’ discussion between him, the coaching staff and the players yesterday, which saw the pair committed to continuing their struggle together to face upcoming tournaments including the 2028 Olympic Games target.

However, for the Asian Games, Aaron Chia will take on the challenge with Tee Kai Wun while Wooi Yik is not on the list of players for Aichi-Nagoya after the coaching staff decided to try a ‘scratch pair’ strategy.

Chong Wei explained that the decision to select players for the Asian Games was made based on the recommendation of the coaches who wanted the best conditions and performance to chase medals in the quadrennial tournament.

“At that time, the coach said he wanted a scratch pair, right? He wanted to try to see who would be the best partner. That’s the coach, give me the name, okay, we just submit. We have to choose the best condition, the best players go to the Asian Games. Because I’ve said the Asian Games is every four years.

“I told Rexy after this Asian Games, they (Aaron-Wooi Yik) will be back as partners until 2028. But don’t just go halfway, there’s a problem we can’t change,” he told reporters here after the Lee Chong Wei Cup badminton tournament at Juara Stadium, Bukit Kiara, here, today.

Commenting on the players’ aggrieved feelings who claimed they were not brought to discuss the temporary split, Chong Wei explained that he had resolved the misunderstanding in the meeting.

“I told Wooi Yik and Aaron, it’s okay. Now we close this chapter. They said they want to to go to the 2028 Olympic. Okay, you want to be on the same page, you want to go, okay,” he said.