Bigger stakes, bigger ambitions: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik set sights on Malaysia Masters final on home ground

Bigger stakes, bigger ambitions: Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik set sights on Malaysia Masters final on home ground

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — With the Malaysia Masters 2025 set to offer an increased prize pool — rising from US$420,000 (approximately RM1.85 million) to US$475,500 — newly crowned Badminton Asia Championships men’s doubles champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are aiming high, with their sights firmly set on reaching the final for the first time on home soil.‍

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — With the Malaysia Masters 2025 set to offer an increased prize pool — rising from US$420,000 (approximately RM1.85 million) to US$475,500 — newly crowned Badminton Asia Championships men’s doubles champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are aiming high, with their sights firmly set on reaching the final for the first time on home soil.

“Competing at home is always special. We’re looking forward to seeing familiar faces and hope to make it to the final — and hopefully walk away with the winner’s prize,” said Aaron during today’s Malaysia Masters 2025 press conference.

Their best performance at the tournament so far has been semi-final finishes in 2019 and 2022.

National mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin are also gearing up for a breakthrough at the Super 500 tournament, which will take place at Axiata Arena from May 20 to 25. Pang Ron acknowledged that they must stay composed to improve on their slow start to the season. Ranked 14th in the world, the duo has only managed two quarter-final appearances from eight tournaments this year.

Meanwhile, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) expressed gratitude to Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) for returning as the tournament’s title sponsor for the seventh time. BAM acting president Datuk V. Subramaniam credited Perodua’s ongoing support as a key factor in the tournament's elevation to Super 500 status.

Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the company is proud to continue supporting one of the country's premier badminton events.

Tickets for Malaysia Masters 2025 will be available starting Friday, April 18, via www.ticket2u.com.my. — Bernama

Malaysia’s Soh Wooi Yik (left) and Aaron Chia play a point against China’s Chen Boyang and Liu Yi during their men’s doubles final match at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, in China’s eastern Zhejiang Province on April 13, 2025. — AFP pic

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