Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah reach badminton doubles finals, putting Malaysia on the brink of two SEA Games gold medals.
MALAYSIA is poised to claim both the men’s and women’s doubles badminton gold medals at the 2025 SEA Games.
World champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik stormed into the men’s doubles final with a commanding 21-10, 21-12 victory over Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando and Bagas Maulana.
The match at Gymnasium 4, Thammasat University Rangsit Campus lasted just 33 minutes.
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Their teammates, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, fell 16-21, 17-21 to another Indonesian pair, Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani.
Wooi Yik stated the pair’s sole focus is now on securing a second SEA Games gold medal.
“Gold is always our goal,” he told reporters after the match.
“We don’t say that because the pressure is really great on us, we just want to fight for the gold medal. We will do our best, we promise.”
Man Wei Chong admitted they were too cautious in their semi-final defeat.
Tee Kai Wun added that nerves led to costly errors during their match.
In the women’s doubles, top seeds Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah endured a marathon battle to reach the final.
They overcame Indonesia’s Rachel Allessya Rose and Febi Setianingrum 21-14, 19-21, 21-16 in one hour and 18 minutes.
Thinaah said they were relieved to have pulled through against the tough Indonesian opponents.
She added her only wish for the final is to leave the court without regrets in their first SEA Games.
Pearly Tan revealed the pair will focus on recovery ahead of the gold medal match.
They aim to end Malaysia’s decade-long gold drought in the women’s doubles event.
They will face Indonesians Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari in the final.
The Indonesian pair advanced by beating Vietnam’s Bui Bich Phuong and Vu Thi Trang 21-10, 21-9. – Bernama
