Malaysian Doubles Shine at China Masters, Four Pairs Reach Semifinals

In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Malaysia's badminton doubles teams shone at the 2026 China Masters held in Shenzhen, with four pairs securing spots in the semifinals. Leading the charge were Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing, who have become a standout story of the tournament.

Ranked No. 85 in the world, Hoo and Lai continued to defy expectations by defeating their third consecutive higher-ranked opponents. In the quarterfinals, they triumphed over Chinese Taipei’s Liu Kuang Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui with a score of 24-22, 21-5, marking their first Super 750 semifinal appearance as a pair. Their impressive comeback from a game point deficit showcased their resilience and skill.

Other Malaysian pairs also made significant strides, with Goh Soon Huat and Lai Shevon Jemie advancing after a straight-games victory against China’s Gao Jia Xuan and Wu Meng Ying. Additionally, Nur Azriyn Ayub and Tan Wee Kiong secured a thrilling win over Indonesia’s sixth seeds, further solidifying Malaysia's strong presence in the tournament.

Hoo and Lai's next challenge will be against China's Zhu Yi Jun and Li Qian, while Goh and Lai prepare to face the world No. 1 pair Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping. Nur Azriyn and Tan will meet India's fourth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, promising an exciting semifinal round ahead.