National men’s doubles ace Aaron Chia has called on the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to give two promising back-up pairs a shot at representing Malaysia in the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.
Aaron believes that Arif Junaidi–Yap Roy King and Choong Hon Jian–Haikal Nazri have the talent and momentum to make an impact at the regional event, which will take place from December 9 to 20 across Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla.
“I think BAM should send elite back-up pairs like Arif–Roy King and Hon Jian–Haikal. This is their chance to bring home SEA Games medals,” Aaron said.
BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh had earlier stated that Malaysia intends to send its best players to the Games. The national team last struck SEA Games gold in 2021 in Hanoi, but returned from the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh with just two silvers and four bronzes.
Rising Stars Making Their Mark
Aaron, who partners Soh Wooi Yik, knows the prestige of winning at the SEA Games, having claimed the men’s doubles gold in 2019 in the Philippines. He believes the younger shuttlers are ready for their own breakthrough.
World No. 22 Arif–Roy King recently captured their first BWF World Tour title at the Macau Open, defeating Indonesia’s top seeds Sabar Karyaman Gutama–Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 22-20, 21-18 in a stunning upset.
Meanwhile, World No. 43 Hon Jian–Haikal have battled injuries this season but still managed to lift three international titles — the 2023 Syed Modi International and Guwahati Masters in India, as well as the Orleans Masters in France last year.
With Malaysia looking to reclaim its badminton dominance in the region, Aaron’s call to include these rising pairs could inject much-needed depth and energy into the SEA Games squad.
