Singapore: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has described national badminton men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik’s triumph at the 2025 Singapore Open as a moment that brought pride to the nation and united Malaysians in celebration and gratitude.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid expressed his pride in witnessing the pair’s spirited comeback victory over South Korea’s Kim Won Ho-Seo Sung Jae in a thrilling final through a Facebook post. He stated, “This victory is more than just a title. It is a symbol of unwavering fighting spirit, the resilience of two young Malaysians who never gave up, and a source of pride for the nation.”

Ahmad Zahid mentioned that Aaron and Wooi Yik had previously faced their South Korean opponents in the quarter-finals of the India Open in January, where they lost in a hard-fought match. However, their redemption at the Singapore Open final demonstrated their determination and ability to overcome past setbacks.

The Deputy Prime Minister lauded the national pair as heroes and an inspiration to Malaysians, expressing hope that they would continue to forge ahead with courage for the nation. The victory at the Singapore Open marks Aaron-Wooi Yik’s third championship win of the year, showcasing their excellent form.

In their fourth final of the year, the former world champions and world No.3 pair successfully defeated the fifth-seeded South Korean pair 15-21, 21-18, 21-19 in a tense 65-minute battle at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. This victory not only brought glory to Malaysia but also ended the country’s 17-year drought in the men’s doubles category at the Singapore Open, since the last triumph by Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari in 2008.