Taipei: Two-time Olympic gold medalist Wang Chi-lin and his new doubles partner Chiu Hsiang-chieh clinched the men’s doubles title at the 2025 Hylo Open in Germany on Sunday, marking their biggest success of the year. The duo, ranked 21st in the world, managed to upset the world No. 11 Indonesian pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani with scores of 21-19, 21-18. This victory secured their first championship at a Super 500 tournament or higher this year.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Taiwanese pair previously won the Super 300-level Taipei Open earlier in the season. However, in other competitions, they did not advance beyond the round of 16. After teaming up in 2024, Wang and Chiu also finished third in two Super 500 tournaments within the first two months of their partnership.

Following the match on Sunday, Wang Chi-lin expressed admiration for Chiu Hsiang-chieh, his partner since late August 2024. Wang acknowledged the challenges Chiu faced in adjusting to the high level of intensity but noted his partner’s continuous improvement and evolving playing style.

Wang’s former partner, Lee Yang, with whom he won consecutive Olympic gold medals in Tokyo and Paris, semi-retired after the Paris Games and officially retired after the 2024 BWF World Tour Finals. Wang Chi-lin remarked that the 2025 Hylo Open title was “just the beginning,” though he noted the absence of many top players from Japan, South Korea, and China in the Germany tournament.

Wang also mentioned that he would return to Taiwan for a medical checkup, as he experienced tightness and pain in his right shoulder during the games.