Malaysia made a promising start to the LI-NING China Masters 2026 as several national representatives successfully booked their places in the next round, highlighted by victories from Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai and Soh Wooi Yik/Aaron Tai on Tuesday.
The Round 32 action delivered a mixed day for the Malaysian contingent, with some leading names progressing while others saw their campaigns come to an early end.
The experienced mixed doubles combination of Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Lai produced one of Malaysia’s most convincing performances of the day.
The eighth-seeded Malaysians defeated Chen Zhi Yi/Francesca Corbett of the United States 21-14, 21-19, securing a straight-games victory.
Goh and Shevon controlled the match from the opening game before maintaining their composure in the second to seal their passage into the next round.
In the men’s doubles, Soh Wooi Yik/Aaron Tai also advanced after overcoming Japan’s Hiroki Okamura/Kyohei Yamashita.
The Malaysians lost the opening game 18-21, but responded strongly to take the second 21-12 before completing the comeback with a 21-15 victory in the decider.
The result gives Soh and Aaron another important opportunity to build momentum in their campaign.
Malaysia’s other men’s doubles pair, Tee Kai Wun/Yap Roy King, produced another positive result by defeating Chinese Taipei’s He Zhi-Wei/Huang Jui-Hsuan.
After dropping the opening game 18-21, Tee and Yap turned the match around impressively, winning the next two games 21-16, 21-9.
They will now move into the next stage with confidence after another three-game victory.
Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao was unable to progress after being beaten by Indonesia’s top seed Jonatan Christie.
Christie claimed the contest 21-17, 21-19, ending Leong’s China Masters campaign despite a competitive performance from the Malaysian.
There was also disappointment for fifth seeds Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin, who were forced to retire during their men’s doubles match against Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Shohibul Fikri.
The Malaysians were trailing 16-21 when they withdrew from the contest. Malaysia also suffered defeats in several events.
In women’s singles, Wong Ling Ching lost 14-21, 14-21 to Thailand’s Supanida Katethong.
In women’s doubles, Ong Xin Yee/Carmen Ting were beaten 16-21, 15-21 by Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Ya Ching/Sung Yu-Hsuan.
In mixed doubles, Wong Tien Ci/Lim Chiew Sien pushed Chinese Taipei’s Ye Hong Wei/Nicole G. Chan to three games before losing 21-6, 12-21, 22-24.
Par Ti en Ann/Juliana Gabriela also exited after a 14-21, 10-21 defeat to Japan’s Akira Koga/Natsu Saito.
Meanwhile, Leong Jun Hao’s defeat means Malaysia will look to its remaining representatives to carry the challenge deeper into the tournament.
With the China Masters 2026 now underway, the performances of Goh Soon Huat/Shevon Lai, Soh Wooi Yik/Aaron Tai and Tee Kai Wun/Yap Roy King provide Malaysia with an encouraging foundation.
The focus now turns to the next rounds, where the Malaysian survivors will face stronger opposition and another opportunity to make a deep run on the HSBC BWF World Tour Super 750 stage.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
