In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 17 February 1998
- Birthplace
- Kuala Lumpur
- Country
- Malaysia
- Nationality
- Malaysian
- Known for
- Winning Malaysia’s first BWF world title with Aaron Chia and two Olympic bronze medals
- Event
- Men’s doubles
- Partner
- Aaron Chia
- World title
- BWF World Championships · 2022
- Olympic medals
- Bronze · Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024
Why this life matters
Soh’s career demonstrates how elite doubles is built through role clarity and sustained partnership: anticipation at the net became as decisive as power from the rear court.
Timeline
Key moments
Born in Kuala Lumpur
Born into a badminton family and developed as a right-handed doubles player.
Won World Junior bronze
Reached an international junior podium in boys’ doubles.
Partnered Aaron Chia
The national programme formed the senior pair that would define both careers.
Reached the All England final
The unseeded pair broke through to the final at one of the sport’s major tournaments.
Won Olympic bronze
Earned a first Olympic medal in the Tokyo 2020 men’s doubles event.
Won Malaysia’s first world title
Chia and Soh became the first Malaysians to win a senior BWF World Championships gold medal.
Returned to the Olympic podium
Won bronze in Paris after a dramatic three-game medal match.
Added World Championships silver
Reached the final in New Delhi and completed the pair’s gold-silver-bronze world medal set.
A family connection to badminton
Soh Wooi Yik was born in Kuala Lumpur in 1998. He grew up with a close connection to Malaysian badminton: his father played the sport, and his uncle Soo Beng Kiang was part of the national team that won the 1992 Thomas Cup.
Soh developed into a men’s doubles specialist with particular value at the front court. His anticipation, racquet speed and ability to close space complemented partners who could generate sustained pressure from the rear court.
The Chia–Soh partnership
The national programme paired Soh with Aaron Chia in 2017. Their run to the 2019 All England final established the partnership internationally and supplied an early lesson in performing across a full week of elite knockout badminton.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, staged in 2021, they took bronze. The medal was built on a partnership that could change tempo quickly—absorbing attacks in defence, then turning a loose return into a front-court interception or a chance for Chia to attack.
World champions
Chia and Soh won the 2022 World Championships men’s doubles title in Tokyo. It was Malaysia’s first senior gold medal at the BWF World Championships, ending a long wait for a country with one of badminton’s deepest competitive histories.
Soh’s role was central to the pair’s tactical identity. By controlling the net and middle court, he reduced opponents’ reaction time and created the lifts that allowed the partnership’s rear-court attack to operate.
Repeat Olympic medallist
The pair won another bronze at Paris 2024, recovering from match points down in the medal playoff. They became Malaysia’s first doubles team with Olympic medals at two Games.
Their 2026 World Championships silver completed a medal set at the event alongside gold in 2022 and bronze in 2023. As of this review, Soh remains in Malaysia’s national senior squad and the partnership continues to compete internationally.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Soh Wooi Yik
- Who is Soh Wooi Yik?
- Soh Wooi Yik is a badminton player and world champion. Soh’s career demonstrates how elite doubles is built through role clarity and sustained partnership: anticipation at the net became as decisive as power from the rear court.
- What is Soh Wooi Yik best known for?
- Soh Wooi Yik is best known for winning Malaysia’s first BWF world title with Aaron Chia and two Olympic bronze medals.
- When and where was Soh Wooi Yik born?
- Soh Wooi Yik was born on 17 February 1998 in Kuala Lumpur.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 31 August 2026.
- Badminton Association of MalaysiaSoh Wooi Yik — national player profile
- Badminton Association of MalaysiaParis 2024: Aaron–Wooi Yik win bronze
- Badminton Association of MalaysiaNational Senior Squad
- Badminton Association of Malaysia2026 World Championships: Chia–Soh complete the medal set
- Wikimedia CommonsSoh Wooi Yik PMO2025 — image and licence record
