South Korea: Malaysia is guaranteed the men’s doubles title at the 2026 Korea Masters after Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik joined Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King in Sunday’s final.
Man and Soh had to dig deep to defeat Japan’s Haruki Kawabe and Kenta Matsukawa 18-21, 22-20, 21-18 in a closely contested semifinal, while Tee and Yap advanced without taking the court after Japanese opponents Shuji Sawada and Daigo Tanioka conceded a walkover.
The all-Malaysian championship match provides another encouraging result for the new doubles combinations introduced under national men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi.
Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik Survive Three-Game Semifinal
Man Wei Chong and Soh Wooi Yik were forced to come from behind against Haruki Kawabe and Kenta Matsukawa before securing their place in the Korea Masters final.
The Japanese pair made the better start and took the opening game 21-18, putting the Malaysians under immediate pressure.
The second game proved to be the turning point. Man and Soh found themselves locked in a tight battle but remained composed when the score reached the closing stages.
They eventually edged Kawabe and Matsukawa 22-20 to force a deciding game.
With momentum on their side, Man and Soh played with greater control in the third. The Japanese pair continued to challenge, but the Malaysians maintained their composure and completed the comeback 21-18.
- Category: Men’s doubles semifinal
- Winners: Man Wei Chong/Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia
- Opponents: Haruki Kawabe/Kenta Matsukawa of Japan
- Score: 18-21, 22-20, 21-18
- Outcome: Man/Soh advanced to the Korea Masters final
First Final for Man-Soh Since New Partnership Began
The result represents another major step forward for Man and Soh, who are competing in only their fourth tournament since being paired together.
They reached their first semifinal as a partnership by comfortably defeating India’s Krishna Prasad Garaga and Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy 21-7, 21-8 in the quarterfinals.
One day later, they passed a much tougher test against the Japanese pair to reach their first final together.
The new partnership is beginning to show greater balance, with Man’s attacking ability complementing Soh’s experience and defensive strength.
Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King Advance by Walkover
Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King had a more straightforward route into the final after Japan’s Shuji Sawada and Daigo Tanioka withdrew from their semifinal.
The walkover sent the Malaysian pair directly into Sunday’s championship match.
- Category: Men’s doubles semifinal
- Winners: Tee Kai Wun/Yap Roy King of Malaysia
- Opponents: Shuji Sawada/Daigo Tanioka of Japan
- Result: Walkover
Tee and Yap had earned their semifinal berth with an impressive 21-12, 21-15 victory over fellow Malaysians Aaron Chia and Aaron Tai in the quarterfinals.
Their run in Asan has provided further evidence that Malaysia’s recent doubles reshuffle is beginning to produce competitive combinations.
All-Malaysian Korea Masters Men’s Doubles Final
Whatever happens on Sunday, Malaysia will leave Asan with the men’s doubles championship.
- Final: Man Wei Chong/Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia vs. Tee Kai Wun/Yap Roy King of Malaysia
The match will also provide Malaysia’s coaching staff with a valuable opportunity to compare two of the new partnerships under championship pressure.
For Man and Soh, it will be their first opportunity to win a title together. Tee and Yap will have the same objective after producing one of their strongest tournaments since being paired.
Cheam June Wei’s Korea Masters Run Ends in Semifinals
Malaysia’s hopes of reaching the men’s singles final ended when Cheam June Wei lost to China’s Zhu Xuan Chen in three games.
Cheam, ranked No. 71 in the world, started brilliantly and overwhelmed Zhu 21-8 in the opening game.
The Chinese player responded strongly in the second. Zhu increased the tempo and gradually took control, winning 21-16 to force a decider.
Cheam was unable to regain the rhythm that had carried him through the first game. Zhu maintained his pressure in the third and pulled away to win 21-12.
- Category: Men’s singles semifinal
- Winner: Zhu Xuan Chen of China
- Opponent: Cheam June Wei of Malaysia
- Score: 21-8, 16-21, 21-12
Cheam June Wei Still Leaves Asan With Encouraging Result
Although he missed the final, reaching the last four represented an important result for Cheam.
The Malaysian independent player had not reached the semifinals of a Super 300 tournament since the Orleans Masters in March 2024.
He arrived in South Korea with growing confidence after winning the Lin Dan Cup and continued that momentum throughout the Korea Masters.
Cheam defeated Chinese Taipei’s Su Li Yang 23-21, 10-21, 21-18 in a 67-minute quarterfinal battle before running into Zhu in the semifinals.
Yoo Tae Bin Ends Yudai Okimoto’s Winning Streak
South Korea’s Yoo Tae Bin reached the men’s singles final by defeating Japan’s top seed and Taipei Open champion Yudai Okimoto.
Yoo delivered an assured performance against one of the most in-form men’s singles players on the circuit, winning 21-16, 21-18.
Okimoto had entered the Korea Masters immediately after capturing the Taipei Open title, but Yoo prevented him from reaching a second consecutive World Tour final.
- Winner: Yoo Tae Bin of South Korea
- Opponent: Yudai Okimoto of Japan
- Score: 21-16, 21-18
Korea Masters Men’s Singles Final
- Yoo Tae Bin of South Korea vs. Zhu Xuan Chen of China
Ashmita Chaliha Reaches Women’s Singles Final
India’s Ashmita Chaliha advanced to the women’s singles final after defeating compatriot Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj in three games.
Ashmita took the opening game 21-13 before Rakshitha responded 21-16 in the second.
Ashmita regained control in the deciding game and completed the victory 21-13.
- Winner: Ashmita Chaliha of India
- Opponent: Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj of India
- Score: 21-13, 16-21, 21-13
Han Qian Xi Beats Kim Ga Ram in Three Games
China’s fourth seed Han Qian Xi secured the other women’s singles final berth by defeating South Korea’s Kim Ga Ram.
The opening game went beyond 21 points before Han edged it 22-20.
Kim responded by winning the second 21-18, but Han recovered in the decider and took it 21-14.
- Winner: Han Qian Xi of China
- Opponent: Kim Ga Ram of South Korea
- Score: 22-20, 18-21, 21-14
- Seed: Han was seeded fourth
Korea Masters Women’s Singles Final
- Ashmita Chaliha of India vs. Han Qian Xi of China
Luo Yi-Wang Ting Ge Fight Back Into Women’s Doubles Final
China’s third seeds Luo Yi and Wang Ting Ge came from behind to defeat South Korea’s Kim Yu Jung and Lee Yu Lim.
The Korean pair took the opening game 21-14, but Luo and Wang responded by winning the second 21-16.
The Chinese combination maintained its momentum in the deciding game and completed the comeback 21-18.
- Winners: Luo Yi/Wang Ting Ge of China
- Opponents: Kim Yu Jung/Lee Yu Lim of South Korea
- Score: 14-21, 21-16, 21-18
- Seeds: Luo/Wang were seeded third
Benyapa-Nuntakarn Aimsaard Cruise Into Final
Thailand’s sixth-seeded sisters Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard reached the women’s doubles final with a commanding straight-game victory.
The Thai pair defeated South Korea’s Seung Hee Lee and Park Min Ji 21-11, 21-14.
- Winners: Benyapa Aimsaard/Nuntakarn Aimsaard of Thailand
- Opponents: Seung Hee Lee/Park Min Ji of South Korea
- Score: 21-11, 21-14
- Seeds: Aimsaard/Aimsaard were seeded sixth
Korea Masters Women’s Doubles Final
- Luo Yi/Wang Ting Ge of China vs. Benyapa Aimsaard/Nuntakarn Aimsaard of Thailand
Yuta Watanabe-Maya Taguchi Reach Another Mixed Doubles Final
Japan’s top seeds Yuta Watanabe and Maya Taguchi continued their strong run by defeating China’s third seeds Gao Jia Xuan and Wu Meng Ying.
The Japanese combination took the opening game 21-14 before Gao and Wu answered with a 21-17 victory in the second.
Watanabe and Taguchi then dominated the deciding game 21-10 to secure their place in another final.
- Winners: Yuta Watanabe/Maya Taguchi of Japan
- Opponents: Gao Jia Xuan/Wu Meng Ying of China
- Score: 21-14, 17-21, 21-10
- Seeds: Watanabe/Taguchi were top seeds; Gao/Wu were seeded third
Kim Jae Hyeon-Jang Ha Jeong Complete Comeback
South Korea’s second seeds Kim Jae Hyeon and Jang Ha Jeong recovered from losing the opening game to defeat Japan’s Haruki Kawabe and Kokona Ishikawa.
Kawabe and Ishikawa took the first 21-14, but Kim and Jang responded 21-15 in the second before winning the deciding game 21-13.
- Winners: Kim Jae Hyeon/Jang Ha Jeong of South Korea
- Opponents: Haruki Kawabe/Kokona Ishikawa of Japan
- Score: 14-21, 21-15, 21-13
- Seeds: Kim/Jang were seeded second
Korea Masters Mixed Doubles Final
- Yuta Watanabe/Maya Taguchi of Japan vs. Kim Jae Hyeon/Jang Ha Jeong of South Korea
2026 Korea Masters Final Matchups
- Men’s singles: Yoo Tae Bin of South Korea vs. Zhu Xuan Chen of China
- Women’s singles: Ashmita Chaliha of India vs. Han Qian Xi of China
- Men’s doubles: Man Wei Chong/Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia vs. Tee Kai Wun/Yap Roy King of Malaysia
- Women’s doubles: Luo Yi/Wang Ting Ge of China vs. Benyapa Aimsaard/Nuntakarn Aimsaard of Thailand
- Mixed doubles: Yuta Watanabe/Maya Taguchi of Japan vs. Kim Jae Hyeon/Jang Ha Jeong of South Korea
Malaysia Guaranteed Korea Masters Men’s Doubles Crown
The biggest Malaysian badminton news from semifinal day was unquestionably the success of the country’s newly formed men’s doubles partnerships.
Having Man Wei Chong-Soh Wooi Yik and Tee Kai Wun-Yap Roy King contest the final means Malaysia is guaranteed to leave South Korea with at least one title.
More importantly, the result provides encouraging evidence for the doubles restructuring introduced by Herry Iman Pierngadi.
Man and Soh have reached their first final together in only their fourth tournament, while Tee and Yap have also quickly established themselves as a competitive combination.
Sunday’s all-Malaysian final will now determine which of the two new partnerships becomes a Korea Masters badminton champion first.
