Kuala lumpur: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) Performance Committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei believes the newly tested men's doubles combinations could offer Malaysia its best chance of winning a first Olympic gold medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Games (LA28). He said the move to experiment with new partnerships ahead of next year's Olympic qualification campaign was aimed at identifying the strongest combinations capable of ending Malaysia's long wait for Olympic gold. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chong Wei emphasized that decisions should not be made at the last minute, as next year marks the beginning of the Olympic qualification process. He communicated this after attending the BAM Council Meeting at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) at Bukit Kiara. He referred to BAM's strategic decision to pair Aaron Chia with Tee Kai Wun and Soh Wooi Yik with Man Wei Chong in several upcoming tournaments as part of its long-term planning for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Chong Wei highlig hted that partner changes typically occur in January in preparation for the Olympics. However, he advised coaches to initiate the trials earlier, either before or after this year's Asian Games. The coaches believe these combinations possess the potential to secure the country's first Olympic gold medal. Chong Wei noted that several badminton powerhouses have already started experimenting with new partnerships immediately after the Paris 2024 Olympics to determine the best combinations for the next Olympic cycle. He acknowledged that Malaysia might be slightly behind in this regard, and forming new pairings is a challenging decision. Despite the challenges, Chong Wei did not dismiss the possibility of retaining the new pairings through to LA28 if they produce favorable outcomes.