Markham: Malaysia’s Cheam June Wei battled through two qualifying matches on Tuesday to secure his place in the main draw of the Canada Open.
The world No. 71 men’s singles player had to recover from a slow start in his opening qualifying match before defeating Canada’s Wang Yanqing 11-21, 21-15, 21-10.
Cheam then returned to court for an all-Malaysian qualifying clash against Huan Kai Hern, ranked world No. 132. This time, he completed the job in straight games, winning 21-17, 21-19 to move into the main draw.
The result gives Cheam another opportunity to test himself on the BWF World Tour, with Japan’s eighth seed Minoru Koga waiting in the first round on Wednesday.
Cheam June Wei Faces Minoru Koga in First Round
Cheam’s opening main draw match will not be easy. Koga enters as the No. 8 seed and brings strong Japanese discipline, court coverage, and rally consistency.
For Cheam, the key will be starting faster than he did in his first qualifying match. Against Wang Yanqing, he dropped the opening game heavily before finding his rhythm. He cannot afford the same slow start against a seeded opponent in the main draw.
Still, winning two matches in one day should give the Malaysian independent player valuable confidence. His ability to adjust after losing the first game in qualifying was a positive sign heading into the next round.
Victor Lai Enters Canada Open With Big Expectations
While Cheam’s progress was positive badminton news for Malaysia, much of the tournament attention will be on home favorite Victor Lai.
The Canadian men’s singles player has enjoyed a remarkable rise over the past year. His breakthrough began at last year’s Canada Open, where he finished runner-up to Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto.
Since then, Lai has continued to build his reputation. He claimed a bronze medal at the BWF World Championships and recently captured the Indonesia Open title, one of the biggest victories of his career.
Now, returning to the Canada Open, Lai will carry the weight of home expectations. No Canadian men’s singles player has won the Canada Open title since Brian Abra in 1999, and Lai will be one of the favorites to end that long wait.
Strong Men’s Singles Field in Markham
Victor Lai will open his campaign against Finland’s Joakim Oldorff, but the draw is far from simple.
Seventh seed Su Li Yang, who won the US Open on Sunday, is also in Lai’s half of the draw. That could create a difficult path if both players advance deep into the tournament.
In the lower half, another Canadian contender, Brian Yang, will look to make his own run. That section also includes India’s Kidambi Srikanth, one of the more experienced names in the field.
With Lai, Yang, Srikanth, Su Li Yang, Koga, and several other dangerous players in contention, the Canada Open men’s singles draw has enough quality to produce a competitive week of badminton.
Michelle Li Chases Fifth Canada Open Title
In women’s singles, Canadian star Michelle Li will also be one of the main players to watch.
Li is chasing a fifth Canada Open title, a result that would move her ahead of joint-record holder Marjory Shedd. With home support behind her, she has a chance to add another important chapter to her career.
Her opening match, however, could be tricky. Li will face India’s Anmol Kharb in the first round, a matchup that will require focus from the start.
Other leading names in the women’s singles draw include American player Beiwen Zhang and Denmark’s Line Christophersen, who recently won the US Open. Christophersen enters as the second seed and will be one of the strongest threats in the tournament.
Canada Open Set for Competitive Week of Badminton
The Canada Open begins with several strong storylines across the singles events.
For Malaysia, Cheam June Wei’s successful qualifying run gives the country another representative in the men’s singles main draw. His first-round match against Minoru Koga will be a major test.
For Canada, the focus will be on Victor Lai and Michelle Li. Lai is chasing a historic men’s singles title on home soil, while Li is aiming to become the first five-time women’s singles champion in tournament history.
With home favorites, recent title winners, and experienced international contenders in the draw, the Canada Open is set to deliver another important week of badminton news from Markham.
