In Focus: Badminton Doubles Superstar Soh Wooi Yik

Badminton is a fast and competitive sport! The doubles game is even more demanding because players must coordinate with their partners to win fast-paced rallies. In the ever-changing world of shuttles and speed, one name is rapidly gaining recognition for his exceptional talent and unwavering determination - Soh Wooi Yik.

The Malaysian men's doubles champion has become a well-known legend on the global badminton stage! Let's delve into Soh Wooi Yik's recent successes and learn about his unique playing style, preferred badminton equipment, and impact on the youth.

Career Profile:

1. Men's Doubles World Rank: 5

2. Men's Doubles World Tour Rank: 16

3. 2023 BWF World Championships Bronze Winner

4. 2022 Men's Doubles World Champion in Tokyo

5. 2022 Men's Doubles Commonwealth Games Winner

6. 2022 Gold at the Asia Team Championships - Men's Team

7. Bronze Medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

8. 2019 SEA Games Gold Winner in Men's Doubles Category

Personal Information:

Birth Date: 17th February 1998 (26 Years as of 19th February 2024)

Country: Malaysia

Height: 1.82m (6 ft. 0 inches)

Handedness: Right

Former Coach: Cheah Soon Kit

Coach: Tan Bin Shen and Rexy Mainaky

Current Partner: Aaron Chia

Racket: Yonex Nanoflare 800 Pro

String: Yonex BG65 Titanium

Soh's Most Recent Wins from 2024 and 2023

Did you know Soh Wooi Yik won the Asia's Most Influential (Malaysia) award for 2021 and 2022, along with Aaron Chia and badminton legend Lee Zee Jia? Let's take a look at his most recent wins to understand how he influences the South East Asian youth and also the rest of the world.

1. Yonex Sunrise India Open 2024 (New Delhi, India):

Soh secured the third position in the India Open by beating the Chinese men's doubles team.

2. Victor Denmark Open 2023 (Odense, Denmark):

Along with his partner, Soh Wooi Yik won the Denmark Open on 22nd October 2023 in straight sets of 21-13 and 21-17.

3. Victor China Open 2023 (Changzhou, China):

In the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 1000, Soh and his teammate secured the second position by losing the finals to Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang.

4. Total Energies BWF World Championships 2023 (Copenhagen, Denmark):

Soh Wooi Yik won the bronze in the tournament by reaching the semi-finals. They lost to the Korean team of Kor Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae.

5. Kapal API Group Indonesia Open 2023 (Jakarta, Indonesia):

Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Chia won the silver medal in the Indonesia Open by reaching the final game against Indian shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.

6. KFF Singapore Open 2023 (Singapore, Singapore):

In the HSBC WBF World Tour Super 750 Singapore Open, Soh secured the third position after losing the semi-final in a nail-biting match.

7. Yonex Sunrise India Open 2023 (New Delhi, India):

At the HSBC WBF World Tour Super 750 tournament held in the Indian subcontinent, Soh won the silver medal.

More Details on the Legendary Malaysian Doubles Champ!

Did you know badminton runs in Soh Wooi Yik's family lines? His father and maternal uncle are former badminton players. His dad won the bronze medal at the 1983 SEA Games in the doubles category. His uncle won the 1992 Thomas Cup.

Soh started playing badminton when he was just four years old. At the tender age of six, he became a professional player playing singles games. However, the Badminton Association of Malaysia quickly recognized his potential as a doubles player, and the rest is history.

Soh was the runner-up in the U-15 singles and doubles categories at the 2012 Badminton Asia Youth U-15 & U-17 Championships. In 2015, he partnered with Aaron Chia to play in the final of the Malaysia Junior International.

Soh also partnered with Ooi Zi Heng to win gold at the 2015 ASEAN School Games. His performance earned him a place in the national back-up squad.

In 2016, Soh and Ooi Zi Heng won the bronze medal at the Asian Junior Championships. In November of the same year, he secured the silver medal in the mixed category at the 2016 BWF World Junior Championships. Later, he suffered several injuries that put him out of the badminton court for many months.

In 2017, Soh partnered with Chen Tang Jie to win a silver at the Malaysia International and Waikato International. He later formed a team with his former teammate Aaron Chia to win a silver at India International. In the coming years, they continued to excel at international competitions such as Vietnam International, Malaysia International, BWF World Championships, and SaarLorLux Open. Their team won the silver at the All-England Open in 2019 and a gold medal at the doubles event at the 2019 SEA Games. He also helped the Malaysian team to win the silver at the 2019 SEA Games and the 2020 Badminton Asia Team Championships.

Soh and Chia won a silver at the 2021 BWF World Tour final at the Thailand Open tournament. They secured a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He also won a bronze at the 2021 Sudirman Cup.

He helped the Malaysian men's team to win gold at the 2022 Badminton Asia Team Championships. As a part of the men's doubles team, Soh and Chia won the silver medal at the 2022 Badminton Asia Championships final.

2022 was another phenomenal year for Soh Wooi Yik because he won a gold in the mixed team event at the Commonwealth Games. He also secured a bronze in the men’s doubles category. He was the winner of the 2022 BWF World Championships. His and Aaron Chia's win brought home the first-ever gold medal for Malaysia in the tournament.

What is the Playing Style of Soh Wooi Yik?

Soh's main strength is his speed and agility. As a front-court player, he does the job of setting up the rear court for Aaron Chia perfectly well. His communication in between shots is phenomenal, which makes them formidable. Competitors find him intimidating because of his speed and ability to pressure them into making mistakes. He has a nice touch and can quickly kill off weak net shots to win points.

Soh's Trusted Badminton Equipment

Soh has been using the latest Nanoflare racket for ultimate speed. His trusted weapon of choice is the Yonex Nanoflare 800 Pro. It promises aggression to his drives and makes his shots faster and more menacing than before. So, instead of waiting for his opponent, Soh can create more smash opportunities and disrupt his competitor's game with quick shots.

Note: Other variants of Soh's favorite racket:

For advanced/professional play: Yonex Nanoflare 800 Tour and Yonex Nanoflare 800 (1st Gen)

For Intermediate-Level Play: Yonex Nanoflare 800 Game

For beginners/recreational play: Yonex Nanoflare 800 Play

He prefers the Yonex BG65 Titanium for its durability and hard feel upon contact with the shuttlecock. An alternative for the BG65-Ti is the NS700 Pro badminton string.

Go for the Gold!

Soh Wooi Yik's journey in the badminton arena is a testament to his resilience, hard work, and talent. His story is inspiring and manifests how rigorous training and a never-say-die attitude will take you far in the game. With speed and style, Soh captivates audiences and challenges opponents to win games. So, keep an eye on Soh Wooi Yik because this resilient Malaysian star is destined for even greater heights.