New Delhi, India: Malaysia continued its 2026 BWF World Championships campaign with encouraging results as Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie advanced in mixed doubles, while Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan moved safely into the women’s doubles round of 16.
The latest badminton action in New Delhi also confirmed several high-profile last-16 matchups, with China’s Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping, Japan’s Yuta Watanabe-Maya Taguchi, South Korea’s An Se Young and China’s Chen Yu Fei among the leading names advancing.
For Malaysia, attention now turns to two difficult matches on August 20. Goh and Lai will face China’s eighth seeds Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi, while Pearly and Thinaah will take on Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari.
Goh Soon Huat-Lai Shevon Jemie Reach Mixed Doubles Last 16
Malaysia’s 10th-seeded mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie produced a composed straight-game performance to book their place in the round of 16.
Goh and Lai defeated the United States combination of Chen Zhi Yi and Francesca Corbett 21-15, 21-16.
The Malaysians controlled both games well and prevented the American pair from forcing the match into a decider.
- Winners: Goh Soon Huat/Lai Shevon Jemie of Malaysia
- Defeated: Chen Zhi Yi/Francesca Corbett of the United States
- Score: 21-15, 21-16
- Event: Mixed doubles
Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi Await Goh Soon Huat-Lai Shevon
A significantly tougher assignment awaits the Malaysian husband-and-wife combination in the last 16.
Goh and Lai will face China’s eighth seeds Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi, who advanced with a 21-16, 21-13 victory over England’s Callum Hemming and Estelle van Leeuwen.
- Winners: Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi of China
- Defeated: Callum Hemming/Estelle van Leeuwen of England
- Score: 21-16, 21-13
The China-Malaysia encounter is scheduled for August 20 on Court 3, with the match expected to begin at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Goh and Lai will need another disciplined performance against a Chinese pair that conceded only 29 points across two games in the previous round.
Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping Cruise Into Round of 16
Top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping of China also made a convincing start to their World Championships campaign.
The Chinese pair defeated Canada’s Jonathan Bing Tsan Lai and Crystal Lai 21-13, 21-8.
After taking the opening game comfortably, Feng and Huang increased the pressure in the second and allowed their Canadian opponents only eight points.
- Winners: Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping of China
- Defeated: Jonathan Bing Tsan Lai/Crystal Lai of Canada
- Score: 21-13, 21-8
Yuta Watanabe-Maya Taguchi Set Up Clash With Chinese Top Seeds
Japan’s 16th seeds Yuta Watanabe and Maya Taguchi also moved into the mixed doubles last 16 with a straight-game victory.
The Japanese pair defeated Hong Kong’s Chan Yin Chak and Ng Tsz Yau 21-14, 21-13.
- Winners: Yuta Watanabe/Maya Taguchi of Japan
- Defeated: Chan Yin Chak/Ng Tsz Yau of Hong Kong
- Score: 21-14, 21-13
The result sets up one of the most attractive mixed doubles matches of the round of 16, with Watanabe and Taguchi facing world championship top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.
The match is scheduled to open play on Court 1 at 10:30 a.m. on August 20.
Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan Advance in Straight Games
Malaysia also received positive badminton news in women’s doubles as fifth seeds Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan safely negotiated their opening assignment.
Pearly and Thinaah defeated Turkey’s Bengisu Ercetin and Nazlıcan Inci 21-16, 21-13 to secure their place among the final 16 pairs.
The Malaysians were tested more closely during the opening game but gradually established control before taking it 21-16.
They were more decisive in the second and completed the victory 21-13.
- Winners: Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia
- Defeated: Bengisu Ercetin/Nazlıcan Inci of Turkey
- Score: 21-16, 21-13
- Event: Women’s doubles
Indonesian Pair Next for Pearly Tan-Thinaah
Pearly and Thinaah will next face Indonesia’s 13th seeds Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari.
The Indonesians booked their last-16 place after defeating Turkey’s Yasemen Bektas and Sinem Yildiz 21-12, 21-14.
- Winners: Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma/Meilysa Trias Puspitasari of Indonesia
- Defeated: Yasemen Bektas/Sinem Yildiz of Turkey
- Score: 21-12, 21-14
The Malaysia-Indonesia showdown is scheduled for August 20 on Court 2 and is estimated to begin at approximately 1 p.m.
It promises to be one of the more closely watched women’s doubles matches of the round, with both pairs arriving after convincing straight-game victories.
Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning Dominate Opening Match
China’s top-seeded women’s doubles pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning also advanced without difficulty.
Liu and Tan overwhelmed Vietnam’s Pham Thi Dieu Ly and Pham Thi Khanh 21-10, 21-11.
The Chinese pair never allowed their opponents to establish momentum and completed one of the most convincing women’s doubles victories of the round.
- Winners: Liu Sheng Shu/Tan Ning of China
- Defeated: Pham Thi Dieu Ly/Pham Thi Khanh of Vietnam
- Score: 21-10, 21-11
Stoeva Sisters Book Meeting With Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning
Bulgaria’s ninth seeds Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva will provide the next challenge for the Chinese top seeds.
The experienced Bulgarian sisters defeated India’s Kavipriya Selvam and Simran Singhi 21-7, 21-14.
- Winners: Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva of Bulgaria
- Defeated: Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi of India
- Score: 21-7, 21-14
The Stoeva sisters will face Liu and Tan on Court 1 on August 20, with the match estimated to begin around 3:30 p.m.
An Se Young Makes Comfortable Start in Women’s Singles
World No. 1 and top seed An Se Young began her women’s singles campaign with a commanding straight-game victory.
The South Korean star defeated Indonesia’s Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan 21-15, 21-11.
An was tested during parts of the opening game but gradually pulled clear before taking complete control in the second.
- Winner: An Se Young of South Korea
- Defeated: Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan of Indonesia
- Score: 21-15, 21-11
Mia Blichfeldt Survives Three-Game Thriller
Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt had a much more difficult route into the round of 16.
The 16th seed survived a dramatic battle against Thailand’s Supanida Katethong, eventually winning 21-19, 11-21, 22-20.
Blichfeldt edged a tight opening game before Supanida responded emphatically in the second. The deciding game went beyond 21 points before the Dane finally secured the two-point margin required to close out the match.
- Winner: Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark
- Defeated: Supanida Katethong of Thailand
- Score: 21-19, 11-21, 22-20
Blichfeldt’s reward is a last-16 meeting with An Se Young, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Court 2 on August 20.
Chen Yu Fei Advances to Meet Pornpawee Chochuwong
China’s fourth seed Chen Yu Fei also secured her place in the women’s singles round of 16 with a straight-game victory.
Chen defeated Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova 21-18, 21-12.
The Ukrainian kept the first game competitive, but Chen gradually took command before producing a more comfortable second-game performance.
- Winner: Chen Yu Fei of China
- Defeated: Polina Buhrova of Ukraine
- Score: 21-18, 21-12
Pornpawee Chochuwong Sets Up Chen Yu Fei Showdown
Thailand’s 10th seed Pornpawee Chochuwong will be Chen’s next opponent.
Pornpawee advanced after defeating New Zealand’s Shaunna Li 21-13, 21-13.
- Winner: Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand
- Defeated: Shaunna Li of New Zealand
- Score: 21-13, 21-13
Pornpawee and Chen are scheduled to meet on Court 4 on August 20, with the match estimated to begin at approximately 2:50 p.m.
World Championships Round of 16 Takes Shape
The latest results have created several compelling round-of-16 matchups across the World Championships draw.
In mixed doubles, China’s Feng Yan Zhe-Huang Dong Ping will face Japan’s Yuta Watanabe-Maya Taguchi, while Malaysia’s Goh Soon Huat-Lai Shevon Jemie will challenge Cheng Xing-Zhang Chi.
Women’s singles will feature An Se Young against Mia Blichfeldt and a high-quality encounter between Pornpawee Chochuwong and Chen Yu Fei.
In women’s doubles, Malaysian fans will be watching closely as Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan take on Indonesia’s Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari.
Top seeds Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning will also face an experienced European challenge from Bulgaria’s Gabriela and Stefani Stoeva.
Malaysia Faces Important Day in New Delhi
For Malaysia, the next round offers two significant opportunities to move deeper into the 2026 World Championships.
Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie will have to overcome China’s eighth seeds Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi, while Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan face a dangerous Indonesian pair in Febriana and Meilysa.
Both Malaysian combinations reached the last 16 without dropping a game, but the level of opposition will rise considerably from this point.
With many of badminton’s biggest names now facing each other directly, the World Championships are entering the stage where every round can produce a major upset, a breakthrough performance or the end of a title challenge.
