KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s men’s singles challenge at the Malaysia Open 2026 remains alive after Leong Jun Hao booked his place in the second round with an assured performance at the Axiata Arena on Wednesday.
Ranked world No. 28, Jun Hao rose to the occasion by defeating China’s Wang Zheng Xing, the world No. 19, in straight games 21–17, 21–17 in a 48-minute first-round encounter.
Match Highlights
The victory was particularly satisfying for Jun Hao, who exited the tournament at the first hurdle last year. This time, he showed composure and resilience, especially in the second game, where he recovered from an early deficit to close out the match convincingly.
“The match was quite tough, especially in the second set when I was trailing before managing to catch up,” Jun Hao said after the match. “Winning in straight games feels really good because we all know how challenging it is to play against any Chinese opponent.”
Leong Jun Hao is set to face Indonesia’s top shuttler Jonatan Christie in the second round, a clash that will test his momentum and consistency.
Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik Deliver as Expected
In men’s doubles action, Malaysia’s top pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik lived up to expectations by advancing to the second round.
The former world champions dispatched the United States duo Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith 21–11, 21–19 in just 35 minutes, displaying their trademark attacking control and defensive solidity.
Aaron and Soh will next face China’s Chen Xu Jun and Liu Yang as they continue their campaign at the Super 1000 event.
Wan Arif–Yap Roy King Eye Upset Opportunity
Another Malaysian men’s doubles pair, Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Yap Roy King, also progressed to the second round and are bracing for a tough challenge ahead.
The world No. 17 pair, fresh from their Macau Open 2025 triumph, opened their Malaysia Open campaign with a confident straight-games win over the Korean-Malaysian combination Choi Sol Gyu and Goh V Shem, prevailing 22–20, 21–12 in 38 minutes.
Up next for Arif and Roy King is a daunting encounter against India’s third seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, a pair they have yet to defeat in three previous meetings.
Despite the head-to-head record, Arif remains upbeat.
“We have nothing to lose. We’ll enjoy the match and give everything in front of our home fans. If there’s an opportunity, we’ll take it,” he said.
With several Malaysian representatives still in contention, the home crowd at the Axiata Arena can look forward to more high-intensity badminton action as the Malaysia Open 2026 gathers momentum.
