Paris, France, October 21: Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik continued their strong form at the 2026 French Open, defeating China’s He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu 21-15, 21-19 to reach the men’s doubles round of 16 at the BWF World Tour Super 750 tournament.

Fellow Malaysians Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun also advanced after a three-game comeback against Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi, while Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan joined Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting in setting up an all-Malaysian women’s doubles second-round clash.

The results gave Malaysia several encouraging performances at Arena Grand Paris, although China’s second-seeded men’s doubles pair Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang suffered a surprise first-round defeat.

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik Beat He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu

World No. 4 Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, fresh from finishing runners-up at last week’s Denmark Open, needed just 37 minutes to overcome China’s world No. 34 pair He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu.

The Malaysians faced a closely contested opening game, with neither combination able to establish a comfortable advantage during the early exchanges.

At 11-11, Aaron and Soh produced the decisive scoring run, winning seven consecutive points to move ahead 18-11. That advantage proved sufficient as they secured the first game 21-15.

The second game was considerably tighter. Both pairs remained level deep into the contest before Aaron and Soh broke a 17-17 deadlock with two consecutive points.

Leading 19-17, the Malaysians maintained their advantage and closed out the match 21-19.

The victory improved Aaron and Soh’s head-to-head record against He and Ren to three wins from five meetings.

Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun-Pakkapon Teeraratsakul Await

Aaron and Soh will next face Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul for a place in the French Open quarterfinals.

The Malaysian pair will be looking to build on their Denmark Open campaign, where they reached the final after defeating world No. 1 Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae in the semifinals.

Although Aaron and Soh lost the Denmark Open final to Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri, their return to regular competition together has already produced consecutive strong tournament performances.

Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun Fight Back Against Japanese Pair

Malaysia’s world No. 11 combination Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun also secured their place in the French Open last 16, overcoming Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi 15-21, 21-15, 21-17.

The Malaysians needed 55 minutes to complete the comeback after losing the opening game 15-21.

Man and Tee responded by taking the second game 21-15, forcing a deciding game in which they prevailed 21-17.

The result earned them a second-round meeting with Japan’s eighth seeds Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi, the former world champions.

Hoki and Kobayashi advanced after a closely contested victory over England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy, winning 23-21, 23-21.

Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang Suffer Surprise French Open Exit

One of the notable men’s doubles results came from Chinese Taipei’s Chen Zhi Ray and Lin Yu Chieh, who eliminated China’s second seeds Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang in straight games.

Chen and Lin won 21-16, 21-15, ending the former world champions’ French Open campaign in the opening round.

The defeat also prevented an all-Chinese second-round encounter between Liang/Wang and Hu Ke Yuan/Lin Xiang Yi.

For Chen and Lin, defeating the tournament’s second seeds represents a significant result as they continue their campaign in Paris.

Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting Set Up Malaysian Clash With Pearly Tan-Thinaah

Malaysia is guaranteed at least one women’s doubles quarterfinalist after Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting advanced to face compatriots Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan in the second round.

World No. 27 Ong and Ting defeated France’s Margot Lambert and Camille Pognante 21-11, 21-12 in just 37 minutes.

The Malaysian pair controlled the scoreboard in both games against the world No. 32 French combination, securing a comfortable straight-game victory.

Their next opponents will be significantly more familiar.

Pearly and Thinaah, ranked world No. 4 and seeded second in Paris, began their campaign with a 21-11, 21-15 victory over Türkiye’s Bengisu Ercetin and Nazlıcan Inci.

The result extended Pearly and Thinaah’s winning record against the Turkish combination to two matches.

Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan Return After Denmark Open Triumph

Pearly and Thinaah arrived at the French Open following their historic victory at the Denmark Open on Sunday.

They defeated Japan’s Hinata Suzuki and Nao Yamakita 21-18, 21-11 in the final, becoming the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to win the Denmark Open since Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty in 2008.

The triumph ended Malaysia’s 18-year wait for the women’s doubles title in Odense and gave Pearly and Thinaah their second BWF World Tour championship of the season.

Thursday’s meeting with Ong and Ting will now determine which Malaysian pair progresses to the French Open quarterfinals.

For Ong and Ting, it represents an opportunity to test themselves against their country’s leading women’s doubles combination. For Pearly and Thinaah, the challenge is to maintain their winning momentum after last week’s Super 750 title.

Malaysia’s Doubles Pairs Face Important Second-Round Tests

With Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun progressing in men’s doubles, Malaysia has two established combinations pursuing quarterfinal places.

Aaron and Soh face Thailand’s Peeratchai Sukphun/Pakkapon Teeraratsakul, while Man and Tee meet Japan’s Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi.

In women’s doubles, the all-Malaysian meeting between Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan and Ong Xin Yee/Carmen Ting ensures Malaysian representation in the last eight.

The next round will be an important test of whether Malaysia can carry its recent Denmark Open success into another major European tournament.

Complete French Open 2026 Results

Men’s Doubles – First Round

  • Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik (Malaysia) defeated He Ji Ting/Ren Xiang Yu (China), 21-15, 21-19.
  • Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun (Malaysia) defeated Kakeru Kumagai/Hiroki Nishi (Japan), 15-21, 21-15, 21-17.
  • Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi (Japan) defeated Ben Lane/Sean Vendy (England), 23-21, 23-21.
  • Chen Zhi Ray/Lin Yu Chieh (Chinese Taipei) defeated Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang (China), 21-16, 21-15.

Women’s Doubles – First Round

  • Ong Xin Yee/Carmen Ting (Malaysia) defeated Margot Lambert/Camille Pognante (France), 21-11, 21-12.
  • Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan (Malaysia) defeated Bengisu Ercetin/Nazlıcan Inci (Türkiye), 21-11, 21-15.