Malaysia’s newly formed mixed doubles partnership Jimmy Wong and Cheng Su Yin saw their unforgettable fairytale run at the 2026 Japan Open come to an end in the semi-finals, but not before establishing themselves as one of the biggest breakthrough stories of the tournament.
The world No. 118 pair battled courageously before eventually falling 18-21, 21-18, 15-21 to Hong Kong’s world No. 8 duo Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet in a thrilling 68-minute contest at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Although their remarkable journey ended one step short of the final, Jimmy and Su Yin leave Tokyo with their reputation significantly enhanced after producing one of Malaysia’s most impressive performances of the season.
Having been paired together just two months ago, few expected the Malaysian duo to reach the final four of a BWF World Tour Super 750 event.
Instead, they stunned the badminton world by eliminating three elite Top-10 opponents during their incredible campaign.
Their giant-killing run included victories over World No. 3 Mathias Christiansen–Alexandra Boje (Denmark), Japan’s Yuichi Shimogami–Sayaka Hobara, France’s Thom Gicquel–Delphine Delrue, one of Europe’s strongest mixed doubles pairs
Each victory further showcased the pair’s fearless mentality, tactical maturity and growing chemistry despite their newly formed partnership.
Against the experienced Hong Kong combination, Jimmy and Su Yin once again demonstrated tremendous fighting spirit.
After dropping the opening game, the Malaysians responded brilliantly to level the match before Tang and Tse’s superior experience proved decisive in the deciding game.
Despite the defeat, reaching the semi-finals of one of badminton’s most prestigious tournaments represents a significant breakthrough for the young partnership.
Their outstanding campaign also earns them US$13,300 (approximately RM54,475) in prize money and, more importantly, invaluable ranking points that should see them continue climbing the BWF World Rankings.
Attention now shifts to Malaysia’s men’s doubles stars Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, who will take on world No. 1 and reigning world champions Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae of South Korea in another blockbuster Japan Open semi-final later today.
With the Super 750 champions set to receive US$70,300, and the runners-up US$33,250, the stakes remain high in Tokyo.
While the Japan Open journey has ended, Jimmy Wong and Cheng Su Yin have achieved something far greater than a semi-final appearance.
Credit Photo : SBA
