2025-11-02,KUALA LUMPUR

In a bold move, national coach Herry IP has decided to rest Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik from the Kumamoto Masters (Nov 11-16) and Australia Open (Nov 18-23) in a bid to halt their recent slump.

The world No. 2 suffered a mixed run during the European leg of the World Tour, with their best result being a runners-up finish at the Arctic Open.

They crashed out in the first round of the Denmark Open, made the semi-finals of the French Open, and reached the quarter-finals at the Hylo Open.

The results have prompted Herry to prioritise training over competition, as Aaron-Wooi Yik prepare for next month's Thailand SEA Games and the prestigious World Tour Finals (WTF).

"Aaron-Wooi Yik are not playing in Kumamoto and Australia because they've already qualified for the WTF. They need a break," said Herry.

"They'll focus on quality training over the next four weeks to ensure they're well-prepared for the SEA Games and WTF."

Herry admitted that while the two-time Olympic bronze medallists often employ the right tactics during matches, they sometimes get carried away in execution.

"They tend to rush their play, which leads to mistakes," he added.

Aaron-Wooi Yik enjoyed a mid-year surge, winning three titles, the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC), Thailand Open and Singapore Open, but have struggled to maintain consistency since.

They have competed in 20 tournaments this year, including their runner-up finish at the China Open — a punishing schedule by any standard.

The four-week break from competition is expected to give the pair a much-needed reset as they look to end the year strongly with a solid showing at the SEA Games and the WTF.