Aaron Chia didn’t win anything at the All England Open. But instead of focusing on the loss, he was already looking ahead.

The Malaysian men’s doubles pair lost 21-18, 12-21, 19-21 to defending champions Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae of South Korea in the final on March 8 at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.

This was their third time finishing as runners-up, having also lost in the 2019 and 2024 finals.

Days later, they talked to Astro Arena about how he plans to prepare for the Thomas Cup. Even though the defeat was still fresh, Chia already had a plan for the next few weeks.

He explained it straightforwardly. "For now, there is still time to get back to physical training first. To come back to our physics, as the coach always says. Court work comes later, but bodies first. In the last one or two weeks, we will be on the court," he added.

First, Chia will focus on physical training, and then he will get back to court practice as the Thomas Cup gets closer.

He said his coach helped set up this schedule, which shows it’s not just his own decision but part of a team plan after a tough stretch of tournaments.

The List That Could Make or Break Chia's Thomas Cup Ambitions

Even with a clear training plan Chia has at the moment, one thing isn’t certain yet. whether Chia would make it to the final squad.

"We will prepare. For the Thomas Cup, we are still waiting for the name list," Chia said.

Chia was already planning his training even though his place on the team wasn’t confirmed. It shows he’s the kind of player who prepares like he’s going to make it and works to make sure he does.

According to Astro Arena, Chia’s main goal after the All England Open is to play consistently at the highest level. Whenever the Thomas Cup squad is announced, that’s where he wants to show it.

From All England heartbreak to Thomas Cup hopeful, what's next for Aaron Chia? Share your thoughts below.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi