S Malaysian women’s doubles pair Low Zi Yu and Nor Aqilah Maisarah produced one of the biggest upsets of the first round at the SATHIO GROUP Australian Badminton Open 2026, stunning second-seeded Taiwanese duo Hsieh Pei Shan and Hung En-Tzu to secure a place in the round of 16 at Quaycentre, Sydney.
The young Malaysian combination delivered a composed and fearless performance against the higher-ranked opponents, highlighting the country’s growing depth in women’s doubles as they emerged victorious in a gripping three-game encounter.
Facing the No. 2 seeds, Low Zi Yu and Nor Aqilah knew they would need something special to progress.
The Malaysians started brightly by taking the opening game 21-19 before the Taiwanese pair responded strongly to claim the second game 21-13 and force a decider.
With momentum seemingly shifting towards their opponents, Low and Aqilah showed remarkable determination and composure. Refusing to back down, the Malaysian duo battled point-for-point in a tense third game before sealing a memorable 21-19 victory.
The result marks one of the standout performances by the Malaysian contingent in Sydney and provides a significant confidence boost heading into the round of 16.
Malaysia’s men’s doubles challenge also received a boost through the efforts of Chia Wei Jie and Teo Ee Yi.
The pair overcame Indonesia’s Muhammad Putra Erwiansyah and Bagas Maulana in straight games, winning 21-18, 23-21 in a closely contested encounter.
Although the scoreboard shows a straight-games victory, the second game proved especially demanding as the Malaysians had to fend off intense pressure before closing out the match in extra points.
Their victory ensures another Malaysian representation in the next stage of the tournament and further strengthens the country’s doubles campaign.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
