KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s leading badminton pairs delivered another exciting day for home fans as mixed doubles stars Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and men’s doubles duo Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik secured places in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Malaysia Masters at Arena Unifi, Bukit Jalil.
Backed by a loud Malaysian crowd, both pairs showed composure under pressure to keep local hopes alive in one of the country’s biggest badminton tournaments.
Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei Show Champion Mentality
Second seeds Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei were pushed to the limit before overcoming Indonesia’s Amri Syahnawi and Nita Violina Marwah 21-19, 22-20 in a tense 47-minute mixed doubles battle.
The Malaysian pair looked in control after taking the opening game, but the Indonesians mounted a fierce comeback in the second set and moved ahead 20-17, leaving Tang Jie and Ee Wei facing the possibility of a deciding game.
However, the home pair responded brilliantly under pressure, reeling off five consecutive points to complete a dramatic straight-games victory and book their place in the last eight.
Speaking after the match, Tang Jie admitted they expected a difficult contest against the world No. 16 Indonesian pair.
“They are definitely not easy opponents because they are also among the top players in the world. Before the match, Ee Wei and I already discussed our tactics carefully. The support from the home fans also gave us extra motivation during the important moments,” said Tang Jie.
Ee Wei added that the pair stayed mentally focused even while trailing late in the second game.
“We never thought about going into a rubber game. We only focused on breaking their rhythm and finding solutions point by point. Our coaches always remind us to show character on court and never give up easily,” she explained.
The Malaysian duo will next face China’s Gao Jia Xuan and Wei Ya Xin for a place in the semi-finals.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik Gain Sweet Revenge
In the men’s doubles competition, world No. 2 pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik produced one of their sharpest performances of the tournament to defeat France’s Julien Maio and William Villeger 21-12, 21-10 in just 30 minutes.
The dominant victory also helped the Malaysians avenge their surprise defeat to the French pair at the German Open earlier this year.
After struggling with unforced errors in their opening-round win over Singapore’s Wesley Koh and Junsuke Kubo, Aaron and Wooi Yik looked far more settled and aggressive throughout the match.
Wooi Yik felt the pair’s improved discipline made the biggest difference.
“Today was definitely better compared to our previous match. We played with better structure and reduced our own mistakes. That’s a positive sign for us moving forward,” said Wooi Yik.
Aaron also credited the passionate Malaysian supporters for lifting their confidence.
“Playing at home always gives us extra energy. The crowd support helped us feel more comfortable and confident on court,” Aaron shared.
The former world champions will now meet China’s Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi in the quarter-finals. The Malaysians previously defeated the young Chinese pair at the Badminton Asia Championships earlier this year, but Aaron stressed they would not underestimate the challenge.
“We’ve played them once before at the BAC, but every match is different. We need to prepare properly again,” he added.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Also Advance
Malaysia’s strong showing in the men’s doubles continued when world No. 9 pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani defeated fellow Malaysians Chia Wei Jie and Teo Ee Yi 21-14, 21-12 to reach the quarter-finals.
Sze Fei and Izzuddin will next face either Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi or Taiwan’s Chen Zhi Ray and Lin Yu Chieh for a place in the final four.
Malaysia’s Badminton Hopes Still Alive
With multiple pairs advancing deep into the tournament, Malaysian badminton fans still have strong hopes of seeing home representatives challenge for titles at the Malaysia Masters 2026.
The performances from Tang Jie-Ee Wei, Aaron-Wooi Yik, and Sze Fei-Izzuddin also underline Malaysia’s continued strength in doubles badminton on the international stage.
