Korea Open 2026: Hoo-Lai Let Two Leads Slip as Top Seeds End Quarter-Final

Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing's run of semi-finals ended at the Korea Open on Friday, 6 November 2026. China's top seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin beat the world No. 15 Malaysians 21-14, 21-18 in the mixed doubles quarter-finals of the Super 500 tournament at the Jinnam Stadium, Yeosu.

Pang Ron-Pei Jing had reached at least the semi-finals in each of their previous three tournaments, and they led in both games on Friday. Even so, they couldn't find a way past the world No. 2 pair, and they've now lost both of their meetings with the Chinese duo.

The first game was tight early on, and the Malaysians went 10-7 up. Zhen Bang-Ya Xin then won seven points in a row to take the lead and went on to win the game 21-14.

Pang Ron-Pei Jing started the second game strongly and built a seven-point lead at 12-5. The top seeds raised their level and won 10 of the next 11 points to go 15-13 ahead. The Malaysians kept fighting, and mistakes from the Chinese pair kept them close, but Zhen Bang-Ya Xin held on to take the game 21-18 and reach the semi-finals.

The match was decided by two spells. Across the 7-0 run in the first game and the 10-1 run in the second, Zhen Bang-Ya Xin won 17 points to the Malaysians' one. In the rest of the match, Pang Ron-Pei Jing actually won more points, 31 to 25. That shows how close they came, and also how quickly a lead can disappear against one of the best pairs in the world.

The pairs first met at the Macau Open earlier this year, when Zhen Bang-Ya Xin won 21-11, 24-22. Friday's match also ended in straight games, but it went differently. In Macau, the Malaysians were well beaten in the first game and then took the second to extra points. In Yeosu, they led in both games before the Chinese pair took control.

Credit Photo : China Masters