Taipei: Malaysia will have two opportunities to capture titles at the Taipei Open after Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai reached the men’s doubles final, while Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan booked their place in the women’s doubles championship match.
Aaron and Tai were pushed to the limit by Chinese Taipei’s Chen Cheng Kuan and Liu Kuang Heng before completing a 24-26, 21-19, 21-16 comeback victory in Saturday’s semifinals.
Earlier, top seeds Pearly and Thinaah defeated the United States combination of Francesca Corbett and Jennie Gai 21-15, 21-17 to continue their strong run at the BWF World Tour Super 300 badminton tournament.
Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai Complete Three-Game Comeback
Malaysia’s new-look men’s doubles partnership needed 61 minutes to overcome a determined challenge from Chen Cheng Kuan and Liu Kuang Heng.
The home pair made the stronger start and held their nerve during a tense opening game. Aaron and Tai had opportunities to take control, but Chen and Liu converted the important closing points to win 26-24.
Instead of allowing the narrow defeat to affect them, the Malaysians responded with greater patience in the second game. They improved their defensive organization, created more opportunities from the front court and gradually placed their opponents under pressure.
Aaron and Tai stayed composed during another close finish and took the second game 21-19 to force a decider.
The Malaysians then produced their most convincing badminton of the match in the third game. After settling into a more effective attacking rhythm, they opened a useful advantage and completed the comeback 21-16.
- Category: Men’s doubles semifinal
- Winners: Aaron Chia/Aaron Tai of Malaysia
- Opponents: Chen Cheng Kuan/Liu Kuang Heng of Chinese Taipei
- Score: 24-26, 21-19, 21-16
- Match duration: 61 minutes
Watch Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai’s Taipei Open Semifinal Highlights
Aaron Chia Praises Partner’s Composure
Aaron said the disappointment of losing the first game did not weaken their confidence. His immediate priority was to keep Tai calm and focused on the next rally rather than the missed opportunities.
The 2022 world champion described Chen and Liu as the most difficult opponents they had faced during the tournament, particularly because the Taiwanese pair received strong support from the home crowd.
That pressure made the victory even more meaningful for the experimental Malaysian partnership, which was formed as part of the national coaching team’s effort to explore new men’s doubles combinations.
The pair will now have an opportunity to win its first title together.
Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai to Face Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin
Aaron and Tai will meet Indonesia’s eighth-seeded pair Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin in the men’s doubles final.
The Indonesian combination will present another demanding test with its speed, attacking power and experience at major international badminton tournaments.
- Men’s doubles final: Aaron Chia/Aaron Tai of Malaysia vs. Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin of Indonesia
Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan Reach Women’s Doubles Final
Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan gave Malaysia its first finalist of the day by defeating Francesca Corbett and Jennie Gai of the United States in straight games.
The Malaysian top seeds established control early and used their pace to pressure the American pair during the opening game.
Corbett and Gai offered stronger resistance in the second, but Pearly and Thinaah remained disciplined during the closing stages and secured the match 21-15, 21-17.
- Category: Women’s doubles semifinal
- Winners: Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia
- Opponents: Francesca Corbett/Jennie Gai of the United States
- Score: 21-15, 21-17
Pearly Continues Recovery From Injury
Pearly acknowledged that she has not yet returned completely to her best physical condition following her injury, but she is encouraged by the partnership’s steady improvement.
She said their movement, rotation and communication have become stronger with each match, although there are still areas that must be refined.
Thinaah added that trust and communication will remain central to their approach in the final. The pair’s immediate priority is to recover properly and prepare physically for one more demanding match.
Pearly-Thinaah to Meet Sumire Nakade-Miyu Takahashi
Pearly and Thinaah will face Japan’s Sumire Nakade and Miyu Takahashi in the women’s doubles final.
The Japanese pair is expected to test the Malaysians with its consistency, court coverage and ability to extend rallies.
- Women’s doubles final: Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia vs. Sumire Nakade/Miyu Takahashi of Japan
Yudai Okimoto Stuns Chou Tien Chen in Men’s Singles Semifinal
Japan’s fourth seed Yudai Okimoto advanced to the men’s singles final after upsetting top seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei in three games.
Chou claimed the opening game 21-15, but Okimoto responded by taking the second by the same score.
The deciding game developed into a dramatic battle. Okimoto eventually edged the experienced Taiwanese player 22-20 to complete the comeback.
- Winner: Yudai Okimoto of Japan
- Opponent: Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei
- Score: 15-21, 21-15, 22-20
- Seeds: Okimoto was seeded fourth; Chou was the top seed
Yoo Tae Bin Eliminates Lin Chun-Yi
South Korea’s Yoo Tae Bin secured the other men’s singles final berth by defeating Chinese Taipei’s second seed Lin Chun-Yi in straight games.
Both games remained competitive, but Yoo handled the closing rallies more effectively and completed a 21-19, 21-19 victory.
- Winner: Yoo Tae Bin of South Korea
- Opponent: Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei
- Score: 21-19, 21-19
Taipei Open Men’s Singles Final
- Yudai Okimoto of Japan vs. Yoo Tae Bin of South Korea
Nguyen Thuy Linh Advances to Women’s Singles Final
Vietnam’s sixth seed Nguyen Thuy Linh reached the women’s singles final with a straight-game victory over India’s third seed Unnati Hooda.
Nguyen controlled the opening game 21-15 before completing the semifinal victory 21-18 in the second.
- Winner: Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam
- Opponent: Unnati Hooda of India
- Score: 21-15, 21-18
- Seeds: Nguyen was seeded sixth; Hooda was seeded third
Tanvi Sharma Defeats Huang Yu-Hsun
India’s Tanvi Sharma joined Nguyen in the final after defeating Chinese Taipei’s fifth seed Huang Yu-Hsun 21-17, 21-11.
Tanvi was tested during the first game but took control after the interval. She then dominated the second to complete the victory in straight games.
- Winner: Tanvi Sharma of India
- Opponent: Huang Yu-Hsun of Chinese Taipei
- Score: 21-17, 21-11
Taipei Open Women’s Singles Final
- Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam vs. Tanvi Sharma of India
Yuta Watanabe-Maya Taguchi Reach Mixed Doubles Final
Japan’s eighth seeds Yuta Watanabe and Maya Taguchi advanced to the mixed doubles final after defeating Indonesia’s Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja.
The Japanese pair won the first game 21-17 before surviving a much tighter second. Watanabe and Taguchi eventually closed out the contest 22-20.
- Winners: Yuta Watanabe/Maya Taguchi of Japan
- Opponents: Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja of Indonesia
- Score: 21-17, 22-20
- Seeds: Watanabe/Taguchi were seeded eighth
Yang Po-Hsuan-Hu Ling Fang Win All-Taiwan Semifinal
Chinese Taipei’s second seeds Yang Po-Hsuan and Hu Ling Fang earned the other mixed doubles final place by defeating compatriots Wu Guan Xun and Lee Chia Hsin.
The opening game required extra points before Yang and Hu prevailed 26-24. They then maintained their advantage in the second game and completed the victory 21-17.
- Winners: Yang Po-Hsuan/Hu Ling Fang of Chinese Taipei
- Opponents: Wu Guan Xun/Lee Chia Hsin of Chinese Taipei
- Score: 26-24, 21-17
- Seeds: Yang/Hu were seeded second
Taipei Open Mixed Doubles Final
- Yuta Watanabe/Maya Taguchi of Japan vs. Yang Po-Hsuan/Hu Ling Fang of Chinese Taipei
Taipei Open Final Matchups
- Men’s singles: Yudai Okimoto of Japan vs. Yoo Tae Bin of South Korea
- Women’s singles: Nguyen Thuy Linh of Vietnam vs. Tanvi Sharma of India
- Men’s doubles: Aaron Chia/Aaron Tai of Malaysia vs. Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin of Indonesia
- Women’s doubles: Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia vs. Sumire Nakade/Miyu Takahashi of Japan
- Mixed doubles: Yuta Watanabe/Maya Taguchi of Japan vs. Yang Po-Hsuan/Hu Ling Fang of Chinese Taipei
Malaysia Chases Two Taipei Open Badminton Titles
Malaysia’s championship hopes will now rest with Aaron Chia-Aaron Tai and Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan.
Aaron and Tai have already exceeded expectations during their first tournament as a newly assembled partnership, but the Indonesian challenge in the final will provide their most significant test yet.
Pearly and Thinaah, meanwhile, will attempt to complete a successful return to competition by securing the women’s doubles crown.
With two Malaysian pairs competing on finals day, the Taipei Open has delivered encouraging badminton news for the country ahead of the next stage of the international season.
