Tokyo: Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai continued their impressive Japan Open campaign by producing a disciplined straight-game victory to reach the men’s doubles quarterfinals.
Malaysia also celebrated a major result in mixed doubles, where Jimmy Wong and Cheng Su Yin stunned France’s sixth seeds Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue to qualify for their first Super 750 quarterfinal.
However, it was a mixed day for Malaysian badminton as Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and men’s singles player Leong Jun Hao were eliminated in the second round.
Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai Control the Opening Exchanges
World No. 22 Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai defeated Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan 21-10, 21-15 in the men’s doubles round of 16.
The Malaysian pair controlled the match from the beginning, using sharp serves, confident returns and disciplined play during the first three shots of each rally.
Rather than allowing their opponents to dictate with powerful attacks, Khai Xing and Aaron kept the shuttle flat and avoided lifting unnecessarily. That tactical approach limited the Taiwanese pair’s attacking opportunities and allowed the Malaysians to control the tempo.
Khai Xing said their performance was built on careful preparation with the coaching team before the match.
“We are very happy with today’s victory because I think we prepared well before the match,” Khai Xing said.
“Our strength was the first three shots, together with our serves and service returns.”
He added that Lee and Yang were dangerous when given the opportunity to attack, making it important for the Malaysians to keep the shuttle away from comfortable hitting positions.
“They are a strong attacking pair, so we tried not to lift the shuttle to them. We focused on the first three shots so that we could control the rhythm of the match,” he said.
- Category: Men’s doubles
- Result: Kang Khai Xing/Aaron Tai of Malaysia defeated Lee Jhe-Huei/Yang Po-Hsuan of Chinese Taipei 21-10, 21-15
- Ranking: Khai Xing-Aaron are ranked world No. 22
- Next opponents: The winners of Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae of South Korea against Kakeru Kumagai/Hiroki Nishi of Japan
Possible Test Against World No. 1 Pair
A much more demanding challenge is awaiting Khai Xing and Aaron in the quarterfinals.
The Malaysians will face South Korea’s Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, the world’s top-ranked men’s doubles pair, after the Koreans defeat Japan’s Kakeru Kumagai and Hiroki Nishi 21-14, 21-18.
A meeting with Kim and Seo would provide a major test of the Malaysians’ defensive discipline and ability to control the front court.
However, the confidence gained from two strong victories in Tokyo should give Khai Xing and Aaron belief that they can challenge another highly ranked combination.
Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin Record Career-Best Japan Open Run
Jimmy Wong and Cheng Su Yin produced one of Malaysia’s best badminton results of the day by upsetting French sixth seeds Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue in the mixed doubles second round.
The Malaysians won 23-21, 24-22 after 53 minutes of intense badminton, securing their first appearance in the quarterfinals of a Super 750 tournament.
Both games were decided during tense closing stages, but Jimmy and Su Yin remained composed when the pressure increased.
The victory was also their second career win over a top-10 mixed doubles pair, providing further evidence of their progress at international level.
Jimmy credited courage and mental strength for helping them win the most important rallies.
“At the critical points, it depends on how brave you are and how strong your mentality is,” Jimmy said.
“Su Yin was a little nervous at the beginning, so I kept reminding both of us to continue playing and not think too much. That was also how I calmed myself.”
Su Yin said she approached the match without placing unnecessary pressure on herself because the French pair entered as the higher-ranked and seeded combination.
“I told myself that we had nothing to lose because they are a top-10 pair,” she said. “I just wanted to continue fighting until the end.”
- Category: Mixed doubles
- Result: Jimmy Wong/Cheng Su Yin of Malaysia defeated sixth seeds Thom Gicquel/Delphine Delrue of France 23-21, 24-22
- Match duration: 53 minutes
- Achievement: First Super 750 quarterfinal appearance for Jimmy-Su Yin
- Next opponents: The winners of third seeds Mathias Christiansen/Alexandra Bøje of Denmark against Kim Jae Hyeon/Jang Ha Jeong of South Korea
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin March Into Japan Open Quarterfinals
Malaysia’s fifth-seeded men’s doubles pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani strengthened the country’s challenge at the Japan Open with an impressive straight-game victory over Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.
Sze Fei and Izzuddin defeated the experienced Danish combination 21-18, 21-19, showing composure during the closing stages of both games to secure their place in the quarterfinals.
The Malaysians controlled the attacking exchanges well and prevented Astrup and Rasmussen from dictating the pace. Although the Danish pair remained within striking distance throughout the match, Sze Fei and Izzuddin were sharper on the crucial points.
The victory continued a strong tournament for the world-class Malaysian pair, who had earlier beaten China’s Hu Ke Yuan and Lin Xiang Yi 22-20, 21-18 in the opening round.
Sze Fei and Izzuddin will next face the United States combination of Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith for a place in the semifinals.
Chen and Smith booked their quarterfinal spot with a convincing 21-15, 21-12 win over Denmark’s Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard.
- Category: Men’s doubles
- Result: Fifth seeds Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin Rumsani of Malaysia defeated Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark 21-18, 21-19
- Next opponents: Chen Zhi Yi/Presley Smith of the United States
- Next stage: Japan Open quarterfinals
The result means Malaysia will have two men’s doubles pairs in the Japan Open quarterfinals, with Sze Fei-Izzuddin joining Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai in the last eight.
Jimmy-Su Yin Refuse to Get Carried Away
Despite recording one of the biggest victories of their partnership, Jimmy said they still have significant room for improvement before they can consider themselves an elite mixed doubles pair.
“We are still a long way away,” he said. “We just want to continue giving our best and let our performances on court determine how far we can go.”
The Malaysians will next face either Denmark’s third seeds Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Bøje or South Korea’s Kim Jae Hyeon and Jang Ha Jeong.
Whichever pair advances, Jimmy and Su Yin will need to reproduce the mental discipline that carried them through the difficult closing stages against Gicquel and Delrue.
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Eliminated by Chinese Second Seeds
Malaysia’s experienced mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai Jemie were unable to join Jimmy and Su Yin in the quarterfinals.
Soon Huat and Shevon lost 14-21, 17-21 to China’s second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin.
The Chinese pair controlled the match with strong attacking pressure and quick interceptions, preventing the Malaysians from establishing a consistent rhythm.
- Category: Mixed doubles
- Result: Second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin of China defeated Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai Jemie of Malaysia 21-14, 21-17
- Outcome: Soon Huat-Shevon were eliminated in the second round
Leong Jun Hao Falls to Christo Popov
Malaysia’s men’s singles challenge also suffered a setback when Leong Jun Hao was defeated by France’s Christo Popov.
Jun Hao lost 16-21, 21-11, 17-21 in a three-game contest.
After dropping the opening game, the Malaysian responded strongly and dominated the second 21-11. However, Popov regained control during the deciding game and held off Jun Hao’s challenge to secure the victory.
The result ended Jun Hao’s hopes of reaching his first BWF World Tour quarterfinal of the season.
- Category: Men’s singles
- Result: Christo Popov of France defeated Leong Jun Hao of Malaysia 21-16, 11-21, 21-17
- Outcome: Jun Hao was eliminated in the second round
Two Malaysian Partnerships Keep Japan Open Challenge Alive
Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai and Jimmy Wong-Cheng Su Yin now carry Malaysia’s hopes into the Japan Open quarterfinals after two very different but equally impressive victories.
Khai Xing and Aaron relied on tactical control, service discipline and dominance during the opening exchanges to neutralize Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan.
Jimmy and Su Yin, meanwhile, demonstrated courage and composure during four pressure-filled closing stages against one of Europe’s leading mixed doubles pairs.
Their quarterfinal opponents have yet to be confirmed, but both Malaysian combinations are likely to face another major test against seeded or highly ranked opposition.
Regardless of what happens next, their performances in Tokyo have already provided encouraging badminton news for Malaysia, particularly as both partnerships continue trying to establish themselves at the highest level of the BWF World Tour.
