Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang win doubles gold

In the men’s doubles final of the 2026 Badminton World Championships, the third seeds Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang defeated the fourth-seeded Malaysian pair Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik 21-17, 21-16 in straight games, winning their first men’s doubles world championship gold. The Chinese badminton team reclaimed the men’s doubles crown after an eight-year gap.

Men’s doubles has long been considered a relatively weak event for the Chinese badminton team, but at this World Championships, the Chinese team’s top pair, Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang, together with the young pair Hu Keyuan/Lin Xiangyi, who were making their debut, both advanced to the quarterfinals. However, the latter lost to Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik and failed to progress further, while Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang advanced to the final.

The two pairs are old rivals, and although their rankings are close, Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang have a clear advantage in the head-to-head record. From last year’s year-end World Tour Finals to this year’s Singapore Open, they have achieved three consecutive victories against their opponents.

In this final, the first game was fiercely contested, but after the midpoint when the score was tied, Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang, with smooth rhythm and attacking play, took the first game 21-17. In the second game, Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang maintained absolute focus and played with increasing confidence, giving their opponents few opportunities, winning the game 21-16 and defeating their opponents with a score of 2-0 to claim the championship.

This is not only the first men’s doubles world title for Liang Weikeng/Wang Chang, but also the Chinese badminton team’s first men’s doubles crown since Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen won at the Nanjing World Championships in 2018. With this men’s doubles title, the Chinese badminton team concluded this year’s World Championships with one gold, two silver, and three bronze medals.