National shuttler posts romantic photo on Instagram, sparking fan excitement and speculation online
NATIONAL badminton star Soh Wooi Yik has sent fans into a frenzy after sharing an intimate photograph with an unidentified woman, accompanied by a simple yet telling declaration: “I love you.”
The 27-year-old men’s doubles specialist posted the image on Instagram, setting it to Japanese artist Utada Hikaru’s beloved ballad “First Love” – a choice that only amplified the romantic gesture.
The response was immediate and overwhelming. Within hours, the post had garnered over 104,000 likes, with fans filling the comments section with congratulatory messages, playful remarks, and eager inquiries about the woman’s identity.
With 462,000 followers on the platform, Soh’s posts typically generate significant engagement, but this particular upload struck an especially resonant chord with his fanbase.
Despite the public declaration, the shuttler has chosen to keep his partner’s identity under wraps, offering no additional details about who she is or how they met.
For someone known for maintaining strict privacy regarding his personal life, the post represents a rare glimpse behind the curtain – what many are calling a “soft launch” of his relationship status.
Among those celebrating the news was former national badminton player Goh Jin Wei, who left a congratulatory message on the post, showing support from within the badminton community.
Soh’s personal revelation comes on the back of an impressive 2025 season alongside his doubles partner Aaron Chia. The duo reclaimed their position as world No. 2 and secured three tournament titles throughout the year.
As former world champions, the pair have consistently demonstrated their prowess on the international circuit, establishing themselves as one of the most formidable doubles teams in contemporary badminton.
The partnership will kick off their new season at next week’s Malaysia Open, where home crowd support is expected to be particularly enthusiastic – potentially with a new face cheering from the stands.
Soh will be hoping to maintain the strong form that characterised his 2025 campaign as he and Chia aim to add more silverware to their collection in the coming months.
Whether he chooses to share more about his relationship remains to be seen, but for now, fans are simply celebrating what appears to be a happy chapter in the athlete’s life, both on and off the court.
