Prime Minister Anwar Attends Malaysia Open Final, Applauds National Doubles Pair

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attended the final of the 2026 Malaysia Open Badminton Championships at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Sunday, underscoring the government’s continued commitment to the development of national sports.

Anwar watched the men’s doubles final as Malaysia’s top pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, finished runners-up after a closely fought match against defending champions Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea. The Malaysian duo went down 15-21, 21-15, and 18-21 in a 66-minute encounter.

Following the match, the Prime Minister personally presented medals to Aaron and Wooi Yik, commending their determination and performance despite narrowly missing out on the title.

Anwar’s arrival at the venue at around 5pm was greeted by Youth and Sports Minister Dr. Mohammed Taufiq Johari and Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) President Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

His presence, observers said, reflected the administration’s strong backing for badminton, a sport deeply ingrained in Malaysia’s national identity.

Malaysia’s wait for a men’s doubles title at the Malaysia Open continues, with the last triumph coming in 2014 through Goh V Shem and Lim Khim Wah. This was also the second time Aaron and Wooi Yik were defeated by the same South Korean pair in a Malaysia Open final.

In a Facebook post later in the evening, Anwar praised the pair’s fighting spirit, saying their performance had made Malaysians proud.

“Although the result did not go in our favor, I am proud, as are all Malaysians, of the fighting spirit shown by Aaron and Wooi Yik until the very last point,” he said.

He encouraged the duo to continue working hard, address weaknesses, and maintain confidence, expressing optimism that greater success would follow in future tournaments.