KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s world champion mixed doubles pair, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, continued their strong start to the season by advancing into the second round of the Malaysia Open 2026 with a composed straight-games victory on home soil.
The fourth-ranked Malaysians maintained their perfect record against Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah–Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu, extending their head-to-head dominance to 7–0 after winning 21–12, 21–17 in 39 minutes at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil.
Match Highlights
Strong Communication Sets the Tone
Speaking after the match, Chen Tang Jie admitted that opening-round matches are often tricky, particularly when adapting to court conditions and tournament rhythm.
“The first match is always challenging because you’re still adjusting to the court and the atmosphere,” Chen said. “Today, our communication on court was quite good, and I hope it continues to improve in the next round.”
Toh Ee Wei, meanwhile, described the experience of playing in front of home supporters as a major boost.
“It was really enjoyable to play today because there were so many fans, even though it’s only the first day,” she said. “The stadium was almost full, and we tried our best to fight for every point.”
All-Malaysian Clash Guaranteed
The victory also guarantees Malaysia at least one place in the mixed doubles quarter-finals. Chen Tang Jie–Toh Ee Wei are set to face compatriots Hoo Pang Ron–Cheng Su Yin in the second round on Thursday.
Earlier, Hoo Pang Ron–Cheng Su Yin recorded their first opening-round win at a Super 1000 tournament since debuting last year, battling past Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen–Alexandra Boje.
The Malaysian pair recovered after dropping the opening game to claim a hard-fought 20–22, 21–18, 21–17 victory in a grueling 72-minute encounter.
Healthy Competition Within the Team
Looking ahead to the all-Malaysian showdown, Chen Tang Jie viewed the situation as a positive sign for the national setup.
“What’s important is that one Malaysian pair is guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals,” he said. “Once we step onto the court, everyone wants to win, and the outcome will depend on performance and a bit of luck on the day.”
As the Malaysia Open 2026 progresses, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei will look to build on this confident start while maintaining focus in what promises to be a highly competitive campaign.
