Malaysian badminton player Aaron Chia is preparing for the upcoming Asian Games while awaiting the resumption of his men's doubles partnership with Soh Wooi Yik. The two have spent the last three months competing with different partners as part of a strategic reshuffle implemented by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and their coaching staff.

Chia expressed confidence in reuniting with Soh after the Asian Games and is focused on their long-term goal of securing Olympic gold at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. He emphasized that the coaching team has clearly communicated that the original pairings will be reinstated once the regional tournament concludes.

"Once the Asian Games are over, we will return to our original partnerships," Chia said. "We will just follow the coaches' plan and focus on what we need to do."

The temporary reshuffle, led by men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi, was part of a broader effort to identify the most effective pairings ahead of the 2028 Olympic cycle. During this period, Soh partnered with Man Wei Chong, while Chia teamed up with Aaron Tai.

As senior members of the BAM squad, both Chia and Soh are expected to meet stringent performance targets, especially with Olympic qualification set to begin in 2027. Chia acknowledged the ongoing pressure but remains optimistic about their prospects.

"There will always be KPIs for us because we are among the most senior players in BAM. We also set our own targets because once Olympic qualification begins next year, we will give everything we have," he said.

After the Asian Games, Chia and Soh plan to resume training together and prepare for a series of European tournaments, including the Denmark Open, French Open, and Hylo Open. The upcoming competitions will provide crucial preparation as they aim to solidify their form and rankings ahead of the next Olympic cycle.