Malaysian badminton stars delivered a roller-coaster day of results in the opening round of the Li-Ning Hong Kong Open 2025, with several pairs advancing impressively while some big names suffered early exits.
The men’s doubles world No. 1 pair Aaron Chia – Soh Wooi Yik endured a shocking first-round defeat at the hands of England’s Ben Lane – Sean Vendy, losing 13-21, 21-13, 13-21. The upset cut short the top seeds’ campaign, leaving fans stunned.
Compatriots Ong Yew Sin – Teo Ee Yi also bowed out after a marathon three-game battle against Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-Huei – Yang Po-Hsuan, going down 24-22, 20-22, 17-21 despite a strong start.
However, Malaysia’s hopes remained alive through other pairings. Fifth seeds Man Wei Chong – Tee Kai Wun displayed dominance in their all-Malaysian clash, sweeping aside Azriyn Ayub – Tan Wee Kiong 21-19, 21-12 to book their spot in the next round.
In women’s doubles, second seeds Pearly Tan – M. Thinaah showed no mercy, comfortably dispatching Hong Kong’s Chu Wing Chi – Yu Yi Kiu 21-9, 21-9 in just under half an hour.
Rising stars Arif Junaidi – Yap Roy King pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the day, stunning third seeds Kim Astrup – Anders Rasmussen of Denmark in straight games, 21-19, 23-21. The victory highlights Malaysia’s emerging depth in men’s doubles.
Another bright spot came from women’s doubles pair Go Pei Kee – Teoh Mei Xing, who overcame Hong Kong’s Fan Ka Yan – Yau Mau Ying in three games, 21-15, 17-21, 21-12.
Closing the day in style, second seeds Goh Sze Fei – Nur Izzuddin fought hard to outlast China’s Xie Hao Nan – Zeng Wei Han 21-12, 11-21, 21-19, showcasing grit and determination under pressure.
With a mix of surprising exits and inspiring victories, Malaysia’s campaign at the Hong Kong Open remains alive through several promising pairs. Fans will be eager to see if the younger shuttlers can carry the nation’s hopes deeper into the tournament.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
