AFTER their dazzling semi-final against India’s top doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy- Chirag Shetty by having to fight back from a game down to win 19-21, 21-10, 21-18 in a rubber which stretched 64 minuets, many would have forgiven Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik if they were to fizzle out in the KFF Singapore Open 2025 finals.
This is given their fifth seeded Korean opponent of Kim Won Ho- Seo Seung Jae had a seemingly easy straight set victory of 21-17,21-16 against first seeded Danish top pair of Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in only 42 minutes.
Despite fighting against draining endurance, the third seeded Chia-Soh did not let Malaysia down en route their second title in three consecutive finals – the only exception being in the all-Malaysian men’s doubles final against up-and-coming Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun.
Again, they fought gallantly despite being a game down to outclass the ‘fresher’ Kim-Seo combination 15-21, 21-18, 21-19 in 65 minutes to emerge champion in the US$1 mil tournament. The duo’s share of the spoils was US$74,000 (RM314,998) while the Koreans bagged US$35,000.
Recall that Chia-Soh who were the 2022 former world champions toppled Danish upstarts William Kryger Boe- Christian Faust Kjær in the US$475,000 Toyota Thailand Open 2025 on May 18 by also having to come from a game down to win 20-22, 21-17, 21-12.
The Malaysian world No. 3 who may be inching a step closer to clinch the illusive No. 1 spot has been on a roll ever since winning the Asian Championships on April 13 when they sent local favourites Chen Bo Yang- Liu Yi packing in a straight set of 21-19, 21-7.
A closer look at both Chia-Soh’s progress – or rather change of fortune – points to unsung hero in their coach Herry Iman Pierngadi who started coughing the duo eff3ctive Feb 1
The 62-year-old Indonesian who replaced the previous men’s doubles coach, Tan Bin Shen who decided to join the Hong Kong team, is no stranger to the Badminton Association of Malaysia’s (BAM) coaching director Rexy Mainaky.
Known for having trained seven world champions, including the recently retired Hendra Setiawan-Mohammad Ahsan who has been publicly praised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) as “daddies’ of badminton”, Herry incredibly “does not have the experience as a former top badminton player”.
He only possesses a trainers’ license and has a diploma of education at IKIP Jakarta, now the Jakarta State University (UNJ), a testament that passion and human touch conquer all in certain aspects of life’s success.
In fact, many Indonesian badminton fans are infuriated at their own federation, PBSI or the Badminton Association of Indonesia, for allowing Herry – who is affectionately known as “Coach Naga Api” to be pinched by BAM by not renewing his contract. – June 2, 2025
Main image credit: Yonex Sunrose Malaysia/Facebook
