Saarbrücken, Germany, October 31, 2026: Malaysia’s hopes of reaching the 2026 HYLO Open finals ended on Saturday after men’s doubles pair Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King, along with mixed doubles partners Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing, suffered three-game semifinal defeats at the Saarlandhalle.
Aaron and Yap fell 21-18, 15-21, 18-21 to Denmark’s Christian Faust Kjaer and Rasmus Kjaer, while Hoo and Lai lost 20-22, 21-16, 17-21 to France’s second seeds Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue.
Despite the setbacks, both Malaysian combinations completed encouraging campaigns at the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament, with Aaron and Yap building on their recent Arctic Open triumph and Hoo and Lai continuing their consistent run through the European circuit.
Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King Lose Three-Game Battle Against Danish Brothers
Malaysia’s Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King came close to reaching another World Tour final but were unable to maintain their early advantage against Denmark’s Christian Faust Kjaer and Rasmus Kjaer.
The Malaysians took the opening game 21-18, putting themselves one game away from Sunday’s championship match.
However, the Danish brothers responded by winning the second game 21-15 before securing the decider 21-18 to complete their comeback.
The defeat ended an impressive week for Aaron and Yap, who had eliminated fifth-seeded Chinese Taipei pair Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin 21-16, 21-17 in the quarterfinals.
They had also defeated Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 22-20, 21-19 in the second round.
Having captured the Arctic Open title earlier in October, Aaron and Yap leave Germany with another semifinal appearance, reinforcing their progress as a partnership.
Watch Highlights: Aaron Tai/Yap Roy King vs. Christian Faust Kjaer/Rasmus Kjaer – 2026 HYLO Open Semifinal
Video source: Super Badminton
Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing Fall to French Second Seeds
Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing also saw their HYLO Open campaign end in the semifinals after a closely contested encounter against France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue.
The French second seeds edged the opening game 22-20, but Hoo and Lai responded strongly to take the second 21-16.
With a place in the final at stake, Gicquel and Delrue regained the advantage in the deciding game, winning 21-17 to secure their place in Sunday’s mixed doubles championship match.
The result brought another productive tournament to a close for Hoo and Lai, who have enjoyed a strong European campaign.
The Malaysian independent pair reached the Denmark Open semifinals before finishing runners-up at the French Open last weekend, where they lost to China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.
In Saarbrücken, Hoo and Lai recorded a notable 21-9, 21-16 second-round victory over Chinese Taipei’s Yang Po-Hsuan and Hu Ling Fang before defeating Hong Kong’s seventh seeds Chan Yin Chak and Ng Tsz Yau 21-17, 21-17 in the quarterfinals.
Although another final proved out of reach, their recent performances have demonstrated growing consistency against established international opposition.
Watch Highlights: Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing vs. Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue – 2026 HYLO Open Semifinal
Video source: BWF
Jonatan Christie and Lakshya Sen Set Up Men’s Singles Final
Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie advanced to the men’s singles final after top seed Anders Antonsen of Denmark retired during their semifinal.
Christie had won the opening game 21-18 and was trailing 13-16 in the second when Antonsen withdrew, sending the Indonesian fourth seed into Sunday’s final.
Christie will face India’s Lakshya Sen, who defeated France’s Toma Junior Popov 21-17, 21-13 in the other semifinal.
Sen’s straight-game victory ended Popov’s hopes of reaching the final on home soil.
P. V. Sindhu Reaches Another Final as Kjaersfeldt Upsets Top Seed
India’s P. V. Sindhu continued her strong European campaign by reaching the HYLO Open women’s singles final.
The second seed defeated compatriot Anmol Kharb 21-13, 21-16 in their semifinal, securing another opportunity to compete for a World Tour title following her runner-up finish at the French Open.
Sindhu will face Denmark’s eighth seed Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt, who produced one of Saturday’s most closely contested victories.
Kjaersfeldt defeated Thailand’s top seed Pornpawee Chochuwong 8-21, 21-19, 28-26 in a dramatic three-game semifinal.
After losing the opening game heavily, the Danish player recovered to take the second before prevailing in an extended deciding game that required 54 points.
Chinese Taipei and Indonesia Advance to Women’s Doubles Final
Top-seeded Chinese Taipei pair Hsu Yin-Hui and Lin Jhih Yun booked their place in the women’s doubles final with a 21-16, 21-15 victory over the United States’ Lauren Lam and Allison Quynh Lee.
The Americans had reached the semifinals after defeating Indonesia’s third seeds Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Melysa Trias Puspitasari in the quarterfinals.
Hsu and Lin will face Indonesia’s Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti, who defeated Bulgaria’s Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva 21-16, 24-22.
The Indonesian fifth seeds secured their final berth after closing out a tightly contested second game.
Danish Pair to Face French World Champions in Mixed Doubles Final
Denmark’s Jesper Toft and Amalie Cecilie Kudsk earned their place in the mixed doubles final after defeating Indonesia’s fifth seeds Amri Syahnawi and Nita Violina Marwah 21-23, 21-12, 22-20.
The Danish pair recovered from losing the opening game and survived a close decider to advance.
They will meet France’s Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue, who eliminated Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing in the other semifinal.
All five HYLO Open finals are scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Saarbrücken.
Complete Tournament Results
Men’s Singles – Semifinals
Jonatan Christie (Indonesia) advanced against Anders Antonsen (Denmark) following Antonsen’s retirement, 21-18, 13-16 (retired).
Lakshya Sen (India) defeated Toma Junior Popov (France), 21-17, 21-13.
Women’s Singles – Semifinals
Line Højmark Kjaersfeldt (Denmark) defeated Pornpawee Chochuwong (Thailand), 8-21, 21-19, 28-26.
P. V. Sindhu (India) defeated Anmol Kharb (India), 21-13, 21-16.
Men’s Doubles – Semifinals
Christian Faust Kjaer/Rasmus Kjaer (Denmark) defeated Aaron Tai/Yap Roy King (Malaysia), 18-21, 21-15, 21-18.
Ben Lane/Sean Vendy (England) defeated Julien Maio/William Villeger (France), 21-13, 18-21, 21-16.
Women’s Doubles – Semifinals
Hsu Yin-Hui/Lin Jhih Yun (Chinese Taipei) defeated Lauren Lam/Allison Quynh Lee (United States), 21-16, 21-15.
Amallia Cahaya Pratiwi/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (Indonesia) defeated Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva (Bulgaria), 21-16, 24-22.
Mixed Doubles – Semifinals
Jesper Toft/Amalie Cecilie Kudsk (Denmark) defeated Amri Syahnawi/Nita Violina Marwah (Indonesia), 21-23, 21-12, 22-20.
Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue (France) defeated Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing (Malaysia), 22-20, 16-21, 21-17.
