Aaron Chia and Tee Kai Wun eye surprise medal as scratch pair in Nagoya

National men’s doubles shuttler Aaron Chia is hoping his scratch partnership with Tee Kai Wun can spring a surprise and at least deliver a medal for Malaysia at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. — Picture from Facebook/Aaron Chia Teng Fong

First Published: Tuesday, 15 Sep 2026 7:00 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — National men’s doubles shuttler Aaron Chia is hoping his scratch partnership with Tee Kai Wun can spring a surprise and at least deliver a medal for Malaysia at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan.

Aaron said they would not be weighed down by high expectations as a scratch pair, allowing them to take to the court with a more relaxed mindset at the biennial Games.

The 29-year-old believes their status as a scratch pair could also work to their advantage, with opponents expected to find it difficult to read their playing style as they are still unfamiliar with the Aaron-Kai Wun combination.

“I mean, we are going there as a scratch pair and underdogs. I think we can play more calmly and we are really hoping for a breakthrough there.

“What is important is that we give our best in every match, regardless of whether it is the team or individual event. We do have hopes, and we ourselves hope to bring home at least a medal for Team Malaysia,” he told reporters after a training session here today.

In July, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) announced that Aaron would partner Tee Kai Wun, while his regular partner Soh Wooi Yik was not selected for the 2026 Asian Games.

Aaron previously won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games with Wooi Yik.

Malaysia’s last men’s doubles gold at the Asian Games came at the 2006 edition in Doha through Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

Aaron acknowledged that the men’s doubles competition in Aichi-Nagoya would be fiercely contested, with world number one pair Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea and 2026 world champions Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang of China among the medal contenders.

Besides Aaron-Kai Wun, professional pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will also carry Malaysia’s challenge in the men’s doubles event at the 2026 Asian Games.

All four players are also listed for the men’s team event alongside Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh, Eogene Ewe, Kong Wei Xiang, Chen Tang Jie and Goh Soon Huat.

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will take place from Sept 19 to Oct 4. — Bernama