SINGAPORE — Malaysia’s challenge at the 2026 Singapore Open continues to gather momentum after three of the country’s top doubles pairs secured places in the quarter-finals at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Defending men’s doubles champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, fellow men’s doubles contenders Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, and mixed doubles stars Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei all delivered impressive performances to keep Malaysian hopes alive in the Super 750 tournament.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik Continue Title Defense
Defending champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik produced another composed display to defeat England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy 21-18, 21-16 and advance to the last eight.
The world No. 2 pair looked sharp throughout the encounter, controlling the pace of the rallies with a combination of aggressive attacking play and disciplined defense.
Lane and Vendy remained competitive during the opening game and kept the score close for much of the contest. However, Aaron and Wooi Yik’s experience proved decisive in the crucial moments as they secured the first game 21-18.
The Malaysians raised their level even further in the second game, applying constant pressure at the net and capitalizing on several unforced errors from the English pair.
After closing out the match 21-16, Aaron and Wooi Yik moved one step closer to successfully defending the Singapore Open title they captured last year.
The challenge now becomes significantly tougher as they prepare to face China’s world No. 3 pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in a blockbuster quarter-final clash.
The meeting is expected to be one of the highlights of the tournament, with both pairs considered among the strongest men’s doubles combinations currently competing on the BWF World Tour.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Win All-Malaysian Battle
Malaysia’s world No. 9 pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani booked their quarter-final berth after overcoming compatriots Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Yap Roy King in a hard-fought three-game battle.
Sze Fei and Izzuddin eventually prevailed 23-21, 16-21, 21-8 after 52 minutes of intense badminton.
The opening game was closely contested, with both pairs exchanging attacking blows before Sze Fei and Izzuddin edged ahead 23-21.
Wan Arif and Roy King responded strongly in the second game, taking advantage of several mistakes to level the match with a 21-16 victory.
However, the deciding game belonged entirely to Sze Fei and Izzuddin, who dominated from the outset and raced away to a convincing 21-8 win.
The former Indonesia Masters champions will next face Indonesia’s experienced partnership of Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri for a place in the semi-finals.
With both pairs known for their fast-paced attacking style, the quarter-final promises to be one of the most exciting men’s doubles encounters of the tournament.
Men’s Singles
The men’s singles quarter-finals produced several major storylines, led by Indonesia’s rising star Alwi Farhan, who pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament by defeating top seed and world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China 21-16, 19-21, 21-14. After dropping the opening game, Shi battled back to force a decider, but the fearless Indonesian maintained his attacking intensity and composure to seal a career-defining victory. Elsewhere, Japan’s Kodai Naraoka advanced comfortably with a 21-13, 21-12 win over Chinese Taipei’s Lee Chia Hao, while Denmark’s Anders Antonsen survived a tense opening game before defeating Canada’s Victor Lai 27-25, 21-15.
France’s young star Alex Lanier continued his impressive run by upsetting China’s Weng Hongyang 21-16, 21-13, setting up a blockbuster semi-final clash against Antonsen. The other semi-final will feature Alwi Farhan against Kodai Naraoka. However, the biggest talking point remains Shi Yuqi’s early exit. As the reigning Thomas Cup champion and tournament favorite, many expected the Chinese star to challenge for the title. Instead, his defeat has blown the draw wide open and highlighted the rapid rise of Alwi Farhan, who now finds himself just two victories away from one of the biggest titles of his young career.
Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei Stay on Course
Malaysia’s mixed doubles hopes remain alive after world No. 4 pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei defeated South Korea’s Kim Jae Hyeon and Jang Ha Jeong 22-20, 21-14.
The third seeds were pushed hard in the opening game as the Korean pair repeatedly fought back to level the score.
Despite the pressure, Tang Jie and Ee Wei maintained their composure during the closing stages to secure a crucial 22-20 victory.
Once ahead, the Malaysians settled into their rhythm and controlled the second game with greater authority.
Their improved net play and sharper attacking combinations allowed them to pull away before sealing a straight-games victory.
Tang Jie and Ee Wei will now meet India’s Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, currently ranked world No. 28, in the quarter-finals.
Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin Exit Tournament
Malaysia’s mixed doubles pair Jimmy Wong and Cheng Su Yin were unable to continue their impressive run after losing to Taiwan’s Yang Po Hsuan and Hu Ling Fang.
The Taiwanese pair dominated from start to finish and secured a comfortable 21-6, 21-13 victory in just 26 minutes.
The Malaysians struggled to establish any rhythm as their opponents controlled the rallies and dictated the pace throughout the match.
Pearly Tan-M Thinaah Suffer Early Exit
In women’s doubles, Malaysia’s world No. 2 pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah suffered a surprise second-round defeat to Thailand’s sisters Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard.
The Thai duo recorded a 21-16, 21-19 victory in 37 minutes to advance to the quarter-finals.
After the match, Pearly and Thinaah admitted they are still searching for their best form following recent injury setbacks.
Although flashes of their quality were evident, the Malaysians were unable to consistently impose themselves against the aggressive Thai sisters.
The defeat marks another setback for the former world championship medalists as they continue working toward regaining peak condition ahead of a busy stretch of international tournaments.
Malaysia’s Doubles Strength Remains a Major Force
Despite the disappointment in women’s doubles, Malaysia once again demonstrated its depth in the doubles disciplines.
With Aaron-Wooi Yik, Sze Fei-Izzuddin, and Tang Jie-Ee Wei all progressing to the quarter-finals, Malaysian badminton fans still have several realistic title contenders as the Singapore Open 2026 enters its decisive stages.
The performances also reinforce Malaysia’s reputation as one of the strongest doubles nations in world badminton, particularly in the men’s doubles category where multiple pairs remain capable of challenging for major international titles.
