National men’s doubles ace Aaron Chia wants the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to give rising duos their shot at glory in the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.
Aaron believes elite back-up pairs Arif Junaidi–Yap Roy King and Choong Hon Jian–Haikal Nazri have what it takes to deliver medals.
“This is their chance to bring home SEA Games medals,” said Aaron, who won gold with Soh Wooi Yik at the 2019 Games in the Philippines.
Arif–Roy King, ranked world No. 22, recently claimed their first BWF World Tour title at the Macau Open, defeating Indonesia’s top seeds Sabar Karyaman Gutama–Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani in straight games.
Meanwhile, world No. 43 Hon Jian–Haikal, despite battling injuries this season, have already secured three titles — the 2023 Syed Modi International, Guwahati Masters, and Orleans Masters.
BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh previously stated that Malaysia intends to send its best players to the December Games, where Malaysia last won badminton gold in 2021. At the 2023 Phnom Penh edition, the squad brought home two silvers and four bronzes.
The 2025 SEA Games will take place across Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla from December 9–20.
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