Vantaa, Finland: Lee Zii Jia made a positive start to his 2026 Arctic Open campaign on Tuesday, comfortably winning his qualifying match to secure a place in the main draw of the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament.
Malaysia also enjoyed mixed fortunes in mixed doubles, with Chen Tang Jie-Chan Wen Tse and Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin advancing to the round of 16, while three other Malaysian combinations were eliminated.
Lee Zii Jia Beats Kalle Koljonen in Qualifying
Lee had little difficulty against Finland’s Kalle Koljonen at the Energia Areena, winning 21-12, 21-15 in straight games.
(Source: AlexandroBadminton)
The Malaysian controlled the opening game and maintained his advantage in the second to complete the victory without being forced into a decider.
- Winner: Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia
- Defeated: Kalle Koljonen of Finland
- Score: 21-12, 21-15
- Round: Men’s singles qualifying
The win sends Lee into the Arctic Open main draw, where he will face China’s Dong Tian Yao in the first round.
For Lee, the match offered an encouraging start as he continues his attempt to rebuild form and confidence on the European badminton circuit.
Lee Zii Jia to Face Dong Tian Yao Next
Lee’s level of opposition will rise considerably in the main draw against Dong Tian Yao.
The Chinese player represents an important early test for the Malaysian, who will be looking to build on the controlled performance he produced against Koljonen.
A strong run in Finland would give Lee valuable competitive matches as he works toward rediscovering the level that previously made him one of the leading men’s singles players in international badminton.
Chen Tang Jie-Chan Wen Tse Win All-Malaysian Clash
In mixed doubles, Chen Tang Jie and Chan Wen Tse came through an all-Malaysian opening-round match against independent pair Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing.
Chen and Chan won 21-15, 21-16 to move into the last 16.
- Winners: Chen Tang Jie/Chan Wen Tse of Malaysia
- Defeated: Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing of Malaysia
- Score: 21-15, 21-16
The challenge becomes much tougher in the next round, where Chen-Chan will face China’s top-seeded Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.
Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin Advance in Straight Games
Jimmy Wong and Cheng Su Yin also progressed after a convincing victory over Sweden’s Oscar Reuterhall and Nathalie Wang.
The Malaysians won 21-12, 21-16 and will next meet Japan’s Akira Koga and Natsu Saito.
- Winners: Jimmy Wong/Cheng Su Yin of Malaysia
- Defeated: Oscar Reuterhall/Nathalie Wang of Sweden
- Score: 21-12, 21-16
Goh Soon Huat-Lai Shevon Jemie Fall in Three Games
Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie came close to joining their compatriots in the second round but were unable to maintain their early momentum against England’s Samuel Jones and Lizzie Tolman.
The Malaysians edged an extended opening game 27-25, but Jones and Tolman responded by taking the second 21-18 before completing the comeback 21-15 in the decider.
- Winners: Samuel Jones/Lizzie Tolman of England
- Defeated: Goh Soon Huat/Lai Shevon Jemie of Malaysia
- Score: 25-27, 21-18, 21-15
Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien Eliminated by Chinese Pair
Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien also saw their Arctic Open campaign end in the opening round.
They pushed China’s Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui in the second game but eventually went down 15-21, 18-21.
- Winners: Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui of China
- Defeated: Wong Tien Ci/Lim Chiew Sien of Malaysia
- Score: 21-15, 21-18
Guo and Chen will next face Chinese teammates Zhu Yi Jun and Li Qian.
Mixed Results for Malaysia at Arctic Open
Malaysia therefore finished the opening mixed doubles round with two pairs advancing and three eliminated.
- Advanced: Chen Tang Jie/Chan Wen Tse
- Advanced: Jimmy Wong/Cheng Su Yin
- Eliminated: Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing
- Eliminated: Goh Soon Huat/Lai Shevon Jemie
- Eliminated: Wong Tien Ci/Lim Chiew Sien
Attention now turns to Lee Zii Jia’s main-draw meeting with Dong Tian Yao and Chen Tang Jie-Chan Wen Tse’s difficult round-of-16 assignment against world-class Chinese pair Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping.
