Arctic Open: teenager Aaron Tai debuts with Yap Roy King in all-Malaysian clash vs Wee Kiong-Azriyn
BAM's men's doubles reshuffle continues in Vantaa, where 18-year-old Aaron Tai pairs Yap Roy King and opens against Tan Wee Kiong-Nur Azriyn Ayub.
Malaysia's men's doubles experiment has a new chapter at the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, this week. Eighteen-year-old Aaron Tai will partner Yap Roy King for the first time, and their opening match is an all-Malaysian meeting with veteran Tan Wee Kiong and Nur Azriyn Ayub.
The Super 500 tournament runs from 6 to 11 October at the Vantaan Energia Areena. Finland is five hours behind Malaysia, so most sessions will be played from Malaysian afternoon into the night.
Why Aaron Tai keeps changing partners
Aaron Tai became a world junior champion in 2024 with Khang Khai Xing. That partnership has since been broken up. National men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has said he wanted to separate the two from the start because of a difference in their speed.
Since then, Herry has tested Aaron with several senior partners. He reached the Taiwan Open final with Aaron Chia and played the China Masters alongside Soh Wooi Yik. Herry told The Star the experiments have shown the teenager can adapt to different partners at senior level. The Roy King pairing is the next test.
Khai Xing will not play in Vantaa. He and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi withdrew because they did not have enough ranking points to make the draw.
A thin Malaysian doubles presence
Most of Malaysia's men's doubles pairs are not playing the Arctic Open, which follows straight after the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. That means the opening-round meeting between two Malaysian pairs guarantees one of them a place in the second round.
Wee Kiong, a former Olympic silver medallist, brings far more experience than either of his opponents. For him and Azriyn, the match is a chance to collect ranking points against a newly formed pair.
Aaron-Wooi Yik reunion still on the cards
The bigger story in Malaysian doubles is what happens to Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. The former world champions were split earlier this year as part of BAM's pairing changes. For the Asian Games, Aaron played with Tee Kai Wun and Wooi Yik was not selected.
BAM performance committee chairman Lee Chong Wei said in August that the two would be reunited after the Asian Games and stay together through to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. With the Games now over, fans will be watching for when that reunion actually happens on the World Tour.
Other Malaysians in Vantaa
Former Arctic Open champion Lee Zii Jia is going through qualifying in men's singles after his ranking dropped to 56th. Malaysia also has several mixed doubles pairs in the draw. Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah won the women's doubles title here in 2025.
Key takeaways
- Aaron Tai, 18, pairs Yap Roy King for the first time at the Arctic Open Super 500 (6 to 11 October).
- Their first-round opponents are fellow Malaysians Tan Wee Kiong and Nur Azriyn Ayub.
- Coach Herry IP split Aaron from Khang Khai Xing because of a difference in their speed.
- Khai Xing and Wan Arif withdrew because they lacked ranking points.
- Lee Chong Wei has said Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will be reunited after the Asian Games.
FAQ
Who is Aaron Tai partnering at the Arctic Open? Yap Roy King, in their first tournament together.
Who do Aaron Tai and Roy King play in the first round? Malaysian pair Tan Wee Kiong and Nur Azriyn Ayub.
When is the 2026 Arctic Open? From 6 to 11 October in Vantaa, Finland, which is five hours behind Malaysia.
Sources: The Star, Malay Mail, Liga Olahraga, BWF