Aichi-Nagoya, Japan: Malaysia’s Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani made impressive starts to the individual badminton competition at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, both advancing with straight-game victories at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.
Aaron Chia and Tee Kai Wun also progressed comfortably in men’s doubles, although Malaysia endured a more difficult day in mixed doubles with both national pairs eliminated.
Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan Beat Indonesian Pair
World No. 5 Pearly and Thinaah faced a potentially tricky opening match against Indonesia’s world No. 9 Febi Setianingrum and Rachel Allessya Rose, but the Malaysians were in control throughout.
Pearly-Thinaah won 21-13, 21-11 to book their place in the next round without being pushed to a deciding game.
- Winners: Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan of Malaysia
- Defeated: Febi Setianingrum/Rachel Allessya Rose of Indonesia
- Score: 21-13, 21-11
They will next face Thailand’s Hathaithip Mijad and Napapakorn Tungkasatan for a place in the women’s doubles quarterfinals.
Watch Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan Asian Games Highlights
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Overcome Chinese Taipei Challenge
World No. 6 Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin also came through a demanding opening-round assignment against Chinese Taipei’s world No. 16 Wang Chi Lin and Chiu Hsiang Chieh.
The Malaysians stayed composed in both games to win 21-17, 21-14.
- Winners: Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin Rumsani of Malaysia
- Defeated: Wang Chi Lin/Chiu Hsiang Chieh of Chinese Taipei
- Score: 21-17, 21-14
A considerably tougher test awaits in the round of 16, where Goh-Izzuddin are scheduled to meet Japan’s world No. 9 Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi.
Watch Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Asian Games Highlights
Aaron Chia-Tee Kai Wun Advance Easily
Malaysia’s new combination of Aaron Chia and Tee Kai Wun had little difficulty in their opening match, defeating Tajikistan’s Odilzhon Abdurakhimov and Dzhumaboi Saidov 21-6, 21-6.
The level of opposition will rise sharply in the next round, however, with world No. 1 Korean pair Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae waiting after receiving a first-round bye.
- Winners: Aaron Chia/Tee Kai Wun of Malaysia
- Defeated: Odilzhon Abdurakhimov/Dzhumaboi Saidov of Tajikistan
- Score: 21-6, 21-6
Malaysia’s Mixed Doubles Challenge Ends
Malaysia had less success in mixed doubles, with both pairs eliminated in the second round after winning their opening matches earlier in the competition.
World No. 10 Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai were edged by India’s world No. 19 Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto 20-22, 22-24 in a closely contested match.
The defeat marked a third consecutive second-round Asian Games exit for Soon Huat and Shevon after similar results at Jakarta 2018 and Hangzhou 2023.
- Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto (India) beat Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai (Malaysia) 22-20, 24-22
Chen Tang Jie and Cheng Su Yin also came close to progressing but fell to South Korea’s Kim Jae Hyeon and Jang Ha Jeong in three games.
- Kim Jae Hyeon/Jang Ha Jeong (South Korea) beat Chen Tang Jie/Cheng Su Yin (Malaysia) 21-16, 20-22, 21-19
Tang Jie is partnering Cheng at the Asian Games in place of the injured Toh Ee Wei, with whom he reached the quarterfinals at the previous edition.
Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Eliminated
Malaysia’s second women’s doubles pair, Low Zi Yu and Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan, saw their campaign end in the opening round.
The world No. 49 Malaysians lost 10-21, 13-21 to Chinese Taipei’s world No. 12 Lin Jhih Yun and Hsu Yin Hui.
- Lin Jhih Yun/Hsu Yin Hui (Chinese Taipei) beat Low Zi Yu/Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan (Malaysia) 21-10, 21-13
Malaysia Faces Bigger Tests in Next Round
The opening day produced encouraging results for Malaysia’s leading doubles pairs, but the competition becomes significantly tougher from here.
Pearly-Thinaah will continue their women’s doubles campaign against Thailand, while Goh-Izzuddin face former world champions Hoki-Kobayashi. Aaron-Tee, meanwhile, will be tested against world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae.
Those matches should provide a clearer indication of how far Malaysia’s strongest badminton combinations can go in the 2026 Asian Games individual events.
