Changzhou: Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik secured their first victory as a men’s doubles partnership, while Leong Jun Hao delivered an assured performance to reach the China Open round of 16.
Wei Chong and Wooi Yik defeated fellow Malaysians Junaidi Arif and Kang Khai Xing 21-12, 21-15 in an opening-round match between two of Malaysia’s newly formed combinations.
In men’s singles, Leong continued his positive run by overcoming India’s experienced H.S. Prannoy 21-10, 21-14, setting up a difficult second-round meeting with China’s Weng Hong Yang.
Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik Claim First Win as a Pair
After losing on their partnership debut at last week’s Japan Open, Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik responded with a convincing straight-game win in Changzhou.
The Malaysian pair controlled their first-round contest against national teammates Junaidi Arif and Kang Khai Xing, winning 21-12, 21-15.
Wei Chong and Wooi Yik established the faster attacking rhythm from the opening rallies and gave their opponents few opportunities to build sustained pressure. Their rotations also appeared more settled than during their three-game defeat to Chinese Taipei’s Lee Fang Chih and Lee Fang Jen in Tokyo.
The victory was especially important for Wei Chong, who recently returned from a right knee injury and was still working his way back toward full match fitness.
Wei Chong and Wooi Yik will next face Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi for a place in the quarterfinals.
Kumagai and Nishi reached the second round after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chiu Hsiang Chieh and former Olympic champion Wang Chi-Lin in three games.
- Category: Men’s doubles
- Result: Man Wei Chong/Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia defeated Junaidi Arif/Kang Khai Xing of Malaysia 21-12, 21-15
- Achievement: First tournament victory for Wei Chong-Wooi Yik as a partnership
- Next opponents: Kakeru Kumagai/Hiroki Nishi of Japan
Leong Jun Hao Cruises Past H.S. Prannoy
Leong Jun Hao made a strong start in the men’s singles competition by defeating India’s H.S. Prannoy in straight games.
The Malaysian world No. 27 needed little time to establish control against the former World Championships bronze medalist, winning 21-10, 21-14.
Leong played with patience and consistency, adjusting well to the court conditions and preventing Prannoy from controlling the rallies with his physical strength and attacking experience.
The victory also ended a six-year wait for another win over the Indian. Leong’s previous success against Prannoy came at the 2020 Badminton Asia Team Championships.
Their career head-to-head record is now tied at two victories each.
It is also the second consecutive week that Leong has reached the round of 16, following his appearance at the same stage of the Japan Open.
- Category: Men’s singles
- Result: Leong Jun Hao of Malaysia defeated H.S. Prannoy of India 21-10, 21-14
- World rankings: Leong No. 27; Prannoy No. 36
- Head-to-head record: Tied 2-2
- Next opponent: Weng Hong Yang of China
Leong Credits Calmness and Better Control
Leong felt that a calmer approach and improved consistency helped him overcome one of the most experienced players in men’s singles badminton.
He also pointed to the importance of controlling the shuttle speed inside the arena, an area that can be difficult for players competing at the China Open.
“Everyone knows it is not easy to control the shuttle speed here,” Leong said.
“This is my third China Open, and I prepared well before the tournament. I was able to adapt to the conditions and play consistently, so I am satisfied with my performance.”
Leong added that his speed and ability to maintain a stable level throughout the rallies were important against Prannoy.
Weng Hong Yang Awaits Leong Jun Hao
Leong will face a much more demanding challenge in the second round against home player Weng Hong Yang.
The 2024 China Open champion advanced after producing a three-game comeback against Denmark’s third seed Anders Antonsen.
Weng recovered from losing the opening game to defeat Antonsen 15-21, 21-17, 22-20.
The result marked another important victory for Weng over the Danish star. He also defeated Antonsen in three games during the quarterfinals of the 2024 China Open, ending a four-match losing streak in their rivalry at the time.
- Category: Men’s singles
- Result: Weng Hong Yang of China defeated Anders Antonsen (3) of Denmark 15-21, 21-17, 22-20
- Next match: Weng Hong Yang vs. Leong Jun Hao
Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai Lose on Partnership Debut
Malaysia’s new men’s doubles pairing of Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai was unable to produce an upset in its first tournament together.
The Malaysians lost 17-21, 19-21 to Indonesia’s sixth seeds Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani.
The partnership brought together former world champion Aaron Chia and 19-year-old former world junior champion Aaron Tai as part of Malaysia’s latest men’s doubles reshuffle.
Although they remained competitive in both games, the Malaysians were unable to convert their opportunities during the closing stages.
- Category: Men’s doubles
- Result: Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani (6) of Indonesia defeated Aaron Chia/Aaron Tai of Malaysia 21-17, 21-19
- Outcome: Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai exited in their first match as a partnership
Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong Win All-Malaysian Match
Independent pair Mohd Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong progressed after defeating the new national combination of Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King.
Azriyn and Wee Kiong won 25-23, 21-17, ending Tee and Roy King’s first tournament together in the opening round.
The independent Malaysians will next face either South Korea’s top seeds Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae or Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan.
- Category: Men’s doubles
- Result: Mohd Azriyn Ayub/Tan Wee Kiong of Malaysia defeated Tee Kai Wun/Yap Roy King of Malaysia 25-23, 21-17
- Next opponents: Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae of South Korea or Lee Jhe-Huei/Yang Po-Hsuan of Chinese Taipei
Goh V Shem-Choi Sol Gyu Advance by Walkover
The Malaysia-South Korea partnership of Goh V Shem and Choi Sol Gyu moved into the second round without playing after China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu withdrew.
- Category: Men’s doubles
- Result: Goh V Shem/Choi Sol Gyu advanced by walkover
- Withdrawn pair: He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu of China
Malaysia’s world No. 6 pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani are scheduled to begin their campaign against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Zhi Ray and Lin Yu Chieh.
Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting Suffer Three-Game Defeat
Malaysia’s Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting were eliminated from the women’s doubles competition after losing a closely contested first-round match.
The world No. 22 pair took the opening game against Chinese Taipei’s Hu Ling Fang and Jheng Yu Chieh but were eventually beaten 21-23, 22-20, 21-14.
Hu and Jheng will next challenge China’s top seeds and defending champions Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning.
- Category: Women’s doubles
- Result: Hu Ling Fang/Jheng Yu Chieh of Chinese Taipei defeated Ong Xin Yee/Carmen Ting of Malaysia 21-23, 22-20, 21-14
- Next opponents for Hu-Jheng: Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning (1) of China
Malaysia’s leading women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan will begin their tournament against Japan’s Ririna Hiramoto and Kokona Ishikawa.
The fifth-seeded Malaysians will be hoping to respond after suffering a first-round defeat at the Japan Open.
Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien Exit Mixed Doubles
In mixed doubles, Malaysia’s independent pair Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien were defeated by Denmark’s third seeds Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje.
The Danish pair won 21-18, 21-13 in 36 minutes.
- Category: Mixed doubles
- Result: Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Bøje (3) of Denmark defeated Wong Tien Ci/Lim Chiew Sien of Malaysia 21-18, 21-13
- Match duration: 36 minutes
Malaysia’s Chen Tang Jie and Clarissa San are scheduled to face Germany’s Marvin Seidel and Thuc Phuong Nguyen, while Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie will play Japan’s Hiroki Midorikawa and Misaki Matsutomo.
Shi Yu Qi Advances After Jason Teh Retires
China’s world No. 1 and top seed Shi Yu Qi moved into the men’s singles round of 16 after Singapore’s Jason Teh Jia Heng retired from their opening-round match.
Teh won the first game 21-18, but Shi was leading 6-2 in the second when the Singaporean was forced to stop because of an injury.
Shi will next face either Thailand’s Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul or Japan’s Koki Watanabe as he continues his China Open title defense.
- Category: Men’s singles
- Result: Shi Yu Qi (1) of China advanced after Jason Teh Jia Heng of Singapore retired at 18-21, 6-2
- Next opponent: Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul of Thailand or Koki Watanabe of Japan
Lin Chun-Yi Returns to Winning Form
Chinese Taipei’s All England champion Lin Chun-Yi rebounded from his early Japan Open exit by defeating China’s Lu Guang Zu 21-18, 21-16.
Lin will next face either newly crowned Japan Open champion Christo Popov of France or Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu.
- Category: Men’s singles
- Result: Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei defeated Lu Guang Zu of China 21-18, 21-16
- Next opponent: Christo Popov of France or Lee Cheuk Yiu of Hong Kong
Chen Yu Fei Survives Three-Game Battle
China’s fourth seed Chen Yu Fei was forced to work hard before defeating Japan’s Natsuki Nidaira in women’s singles.
Chen lost the opening game but recovered to win 19-21, 21-19, 21-18.
She will next face the winner of the all-Indian encounter between Japan Open champion Pusarla V. Sindhu and Unnati Hooda.
- Category: Women’s singles
- Result: Chen Yu Fei (4) of China defeated Natsuki Nidaira of Japan 19-21, 21-19, 21-18
- Next opponent: Pusarla V. Sindhu or Unnati Hooda of India
Ratchanok Intanon Defeats Michelle Li
Thailand’s former world champion Ratchanok Intanon ended a run of two consecutive opening-round defeats by overcoming Canada’s Michelle Li.
Ratchanok won 21-12, 12-21, 21-11 and will next meet Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Linh.
Nguyen advanced after defeating Japan’s Hina Akechi in three games.
- Category: Women’s singles
- Result: Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand defeated Michelle Li of Canada 21-12, 12-21, 21-11
- Next opponent: Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam
Putri Kusuma Wardani Continues Strong Form
Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani carried her strong Japan Open form into Changzhou with a straight-game victory over China’s Han Qian Xi.
Putri won 21-16, 21-16 and will next face Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan.
- Category: Women’s singles
- Result: Putri Kusuma Wardani of Indonesia defeated Han Qian Xi of China 21-16, 21-16
- Next opponent: Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand
Beiwen Zhang Ends Letshanaa’s China Open Campaign
Malaysia’s Karupathevan Letshanaa was eliminated after losing to United States player Beiwen Zhang.
Beiwen recorded a 21-16, 21-15 victory and will next face Japan’s Tomoka Miyazaki.
- Category: Women’s singles
- Result: Beiwen Zhang of the United States defeated Karupathevan Letshanaa of Malaysia 21-16, 21-15
- Next opponent: Tomoka Miyazaki of Japan
Malaysia’s Wong Ling Ching will begin her women’s singles campaign against South Korea’s Sim Yu Jin.
Mixed Results for Malaysian Badminton in Changzhou
Malaysia’s reshuffled men’s doubles lineup produced only one victory between the new national combinations, and that came from an all-Malaysian contest between Wei Chong-Wooi Yik and Junaidi-Khai Xing.
The early defeats of Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai and Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King showed that the newly formed partnerships will need time to build chemistry at the highest level.
However, Wei Chong and Wooi Yik’s first win offered an encouraging sign after their opening-round disappointment in Japan.
Leong Jun Hao also delivered positive badminton news for Malaysia with one of his most controlled performances of the season. His next match against Weng Hong Yang will provide a much tougher examination of his progress.
With several leading Malaysian players still waiting to begin their China Open campaigns, attention now turns to whether Wei Chong-Wooi Yik and Leong can continue their momentum and reach the quarterfinals of the Super 1000 tournament.
