KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has secured at least one semi-final berth at the All England 2026 after two-time runners-up, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, set up an all-Malaysian quarter-final clash against compatriots, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, in Birmingham, today.
In the second-round action at the Utilita Arena Birmingham on Thursday, second seeds Aaron-Wooi Yik survived a stiff challenge from teammates Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King, winning 21-18, 15-21, 21-18 in a 63-minute thriller.
Wei Chong-Kai Wun, the tournament’s sixth seeds, booked their spot in the last eight after dispatching Taiwanese duo, Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi-Lin, 21-14, 21-18 in 33 minutes.
On paper, Aaron-Wooi Yik hold a slight edge over Wei Chong-Kai Wun, having won four of their previous seven encounters.
However, hopes for another all-Malaysian quarter-final were dashed when eighth seeds, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, and 2024 world junior champions, Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai, were bundled out of the world’s oldest tournament.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin fell 21-23, 16-21 to Indonesia’s Muhammad Rian Ardianto-Rahmat Hidayat, while Khai Xing-Aaron Tai went down fighting 19-21, 17-21 to China’s Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi.
In the women’s doubles, national top pair and second seeds, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, advanced to the quarter-finals with a 21-14, 21-14 victory over South Korea’s Lee Seo Jin-Lee Yeon Woo in 43 minutes.
Standing in Pearly-Thinaah’s way for a spot in the semi-finals are Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma-Meilysa Trias Puspitasari.
The unseeded Indonesian pair made their way to the next round as they stunned sixth seeds, Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi of Japan, 21-11, 18-21, 21-17.
Earlier, Malaysia’s campaign in the men’s singles and mixed doubles categories came to an end after Leong Jun Hao and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie lost to their respective opponents.
Jun Hao succumbed 9-21, 13-21 to Japan’s Koki Watanabe, while husband and wife partner Soon Huat-Shevon were shown the exit by second seeds, Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin of China, 16-21, 18-21. – BERNAMA
