KUMAMOTO, Japan, November 13, 2026 – Malaysia’s rising men’s doubles pair Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King continued their impressive run at the Kumamoto Masters Japan 2026, defeating Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan 21-16, 21-12 on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament.
The Malaysian duo needed just 28 minutes to overcome their opponents, who are ranked world No. 15, securing another significant result in their rapidly developing partnership.
The victory makes Aaron and Roy King Malaysia’s sole remaining representatives in the tournament and sets up a semifinal meeting with Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard on Saturday, November 14.
Having already captured the Arctic Open title last month in their debut tournament as a pair, Aaron and Roy King have carried that momentum into another World Tour event, where they are now just one victory away from reaching the final.
Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King Sweep Past Chinese Taipei Pair
Aaron Tai, 20, and Yap Roy King, 25, entered Friday’s quarterfinals looking to extend a Kumamoto Masters campaign that had already included an impressive victory over their more experienced Malaysian compatriots.
In Thursday’s Round of 16, the pair defeated Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin 21-14, 21-15 to secure their place in the last eight.
Facing Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan in the quarterfinals, the Malaysians maintained their winning form against a pair ranked considerably higher in the world standings.
Aaron and Roy King took the opening game 21-16 before producing an even more convincing 21-12 result in the second, completing the match in just 28 minutes.
The straight-game victory marked another important step for the young partnership, which first attracted widespread attention by winning the Arctic Open title in its debut appearance.
Their progress in Kumamoto is particularly encouraging for Malaysian badminton following the elimination of established pairs Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun earlier in the tournament.
With both senior combinations out of contention, Aaron and Roy King now carry Malaysia’s remaining hopes of securing a title at the Kumamoto Masters.
Watch: Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King vs Lee Jhe-Huei-Yang Po-Hsuan Highlights
Watch highlights of Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King’s 21-16, 21-12 victory over Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan in the men’s doubles quarterfinals of the 2026 Kumamoto Masters Japan.
Video source: Badminton Arena.
Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard Await Malaysian Duo
Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King will face Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard in Saturday’s men’s doubles semifinals after the Danish pair secured a comfortable victory over Japan’s Hiroki Okamura and Kyohei Yamashita.
Lundgaard and Vestergaard defeated the Japanese combination 21-14, 21-14 to book their place in the last four.
The Danes have already eliminated one Malaysian pair in Kumamoto, having defeated eighth seeds Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun 21-15, 21-18 in the Round of 16.
That result ended Man and Tee’s hopes of building on their recent French Open title and Korea Open semifinal appearance.
For Aaron and Roy King, Saturday’s meeting presents an opportunity to prevent Lundgaard and Vestergaard from claiming another Malaysian scalp while continuing their own pursuit of a second World Tour title as a partnership.
A victory would send the Malaysians into Sunday’s final, where they would face either China’s Wang Chang and Xie Haonan or Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi.
Wang Chang and Xie Haonan Advance as Hoki-Kobayashi Fight Back
In the upper half of the men’s doubles draw, China’s Wang Chang and Xie Haonan defeated South Korea’s Jin Yong and Jo Song Hyun 21-18, 21-16 to advance to the semifinals.
The Chinese combination claimed the opening game 21-18 before taking the second 21-16, ending the Korean pair’s campaign in straight games.
Wang and Xie will next meet Japan’s Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi, who came from behind to defeat England’s seventh seeds Ben Lane and Sean Vendy.
The English pair made the stronger start, winning the opening game 21-18, but Hoki and Kobayashi responded decisively.
The Japanese combination took the second game 21-12 to level the match before securing the deciding game 21-15, completing a 18-21, 21-12, 21-15 comeback victory.
The result ensures Japan will have home representation in the men’s doubles semifinals, while China, Malaysia and Denmark complete the last-four lineup.
Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Lakshya Sen Reach Men’s Singles Semifinals
In men’s singles, Thailand’s second seed Kunlavut Vitidsarn advanced with a commanding straight-game victory over France’s seventh seed Toma Junior Popov.
Kunlavut won the opening game 21-18 before taking the second 21-7 to secure his place in the semifinals.
The Thai star will face Japan’s Koki Watanabe, who defeated India’s experienced campaigner Kidambi Srikanth 24-22, 21-15.
Watanabe’s quarterfinal was particularly competitive in the opening game, which extended beyond the usual 21-point finish before the Japanese player prevailed 24-22.
He then secured the second game 21-15 to complete the victory and advance to a semifinal meeting with Kunlavut.
Lakshya Sen Sets Up All-Asian Clash With Alwi Farhan
India’s eighth seed Lakshya Sen also advanced to the men’s singles semifinals after defeating Japan’s Yushi Tanaka 21-16, 21-15.
Sen claimed the opening game 21-16 and followed with a 21-15 victory in the second, ending Tanaka’s campaign in straight games.
The Indian will next face Indonesia’s sixth seed Alwi Farhan, who defeated compatriot Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah 21-17, 21-12 in an all-Indonesian quarterfinal.
Farhan secured the first game 21-17 before taking the second 21-12, confirming his place among the tournament’s final four men’s singles players.
The semifinal draw therefore features Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn against Japan’s Koki Watanabe, while India’s Lakshya Sen meets Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan.
Kumamoto Masters 2026 Semifinal Matchups
The men’s singles and men’s doubles semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, November 14, with the finals taking place on Sunday, November 15.
Men’s Doubles Semifinals
Wang Chang / Xie Haonan (China) vs Takuro Hoki / Yugo Kobayashi (Japan)
Aaron Tai / Yap Roy King (Malaysia) vs Daniel Lundgaard / Mads Vestergaard (Denmark)
Men’s Singles Semifinals
Alwi Farhan (Indonesia) vs Lakshya Sen (India)
Koki Watanabe (Japan) vs Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand)
For Malaysia, attention will be firmly on Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King as the emerging partnership attempts to continue its impressive rise against another experienced European combination.
After winning the Arctic Open last month and reaching the Kumamoto Masters semifinals, the pair have another opportunity to demonstrate their progress on the international badminton circuit.
Complete Tournament Results
Kumamoto Masters Japan 2026 – Quarterfinals, Friday, November 13. The following results cover all eight completed men’s singles and men’s doubles quarterfinal matches shown in the supplied tournament screenshots. Scores are listed from the winners’ perspective.
Men’s Singles
Alwi Farhan (Indonesia) defeated Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah (Indonesia), 21-17, 21-12.
Lakshya Sen (India) defeated Yushi Tanaka (Japan), 21-16, 21-15.
Koki Watanabe (Japan) defeated Kidambi Srikanth (India), 24-22, 21-15.
Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand) defeated Toma Junior Popov (France), 21-18, 21-7.
Men’s Doubles
Wang Chang / Xie Haonan (China) defeated Jin Yong / Jo Song Hyun (South Korea), 21-18, 21-16.
Takuro Hoki / Yugo Kobayashi (Japan) defeated Ben Lane / Sean Vendy (England), 18-21, 21-12, 21-15.
Aaron Tai / Yap Roy King (Malaysia) defeated Lee Jhe-Huei / Yang Po-Hsuan (Chinese Taipei), 21-16, 21-12.
Daniel Lundgaard / Mads Vestergaard (Denmark) defeated Hiroki Okamura / Kyohei Yamashita (Japan), 21-14, 21-14.
