Pearly-Thinaah, Aaron-Kai Wun and Fei-Din Advance as Asian Games Badminton Individual Events Begin
Three Malaysian doubles pairs won their opening matches at the Asian Games, but both mixed doubles pairs and one women's pair crashed out.
Malaysia's doubles specialists made a positive start to the individual badminton events at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on Friday, 25 September, with three pairs moving into the second round at the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium.
It was not all good news, however, as both of Malaysia's mixed doubles pairs and one women's doubles pair were knocked out in the first round.
Pearly-Thinaah make a clean start
World No. 5 women's doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah were in control against Indonesia's Rachel Allessya Rose and Febi Setianingrum, winning 21-13, 21-11.
They will play Thailand's Hathaithip Mijad and Napapakorn Tungkasatan in the second round.
Malaysia's second women's pair, Noraqilah Maisarah and Low Zi Yu, lost 10-21, 13-21 to Taiwan's Hsu Yin Hui and Lin Jhih Yun.
Men's doubles pairs set up big tests
Aaron Chia and Tee Kai Wun cruised past Tajikistan's Odilzhon Abdurakhimov and Dzhumaboi Saidov 21-6, 21-6. Their reward is a daunting second-round tie against South Korea's world No. 1 pair, Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae.
World No. 6 Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Mohd Rumsani, popularly known as "Fei-Din", beat Taiwan's Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi Lin 21-17, 21-14. They face Japan's world No. 9 pair Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi next.
Mixed doubles heartbreak
Malaysia's mixed doubles challenge ended at the first hurdle.
World No. 10 Goh Soon Huat and Shevon Jemie Lai lost two tight games to India's Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto, going down 20-22, 22-24.
Chen Tang Jie's pairing also fell, with Bernama reporting a three-game defeat to South Korea's Kim Jae Hyeon and Jang Ha Jeong, 16-21, 22-20, 19-21.
First-round results (25 September):
- WD: Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah bt Rachel Allessya Rose-Febi Setianingrum (Indonesia) 21-13, 21-11
- WD: Noraqilah Maisarah-Low Zi Yu lost to Hsu Yin Hui-Lin Jhih Yun (Taiwan) 10-21, 13-21
- MD: Aaron Chia-Tee Kai Wun bt Odilzhon Abdurakhimov-Dzhumaboi Saidov (Tajikistan) 21-6, 21-6
- MD: Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin bt Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi Lin (Taiwan) 21-17, 21-14
- XD: Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai lost to Dhruv Kapila-Tanisha Crasto (India) 20-22, 22-24
- XD: Chen Tang Jie pairing lost to Kim Jae Hyeon-Jang Ha Jeong (South Korea) 16-21, 22-20, 19-21
A chance to make amends
The individual events offer Malaysia's shuttlers an opportunity to bounce back after both the men's and women's teams exited the team competitions at the quarter-final stage earlier in the Games.
With world-class opposition waiting in the second round, particularly for Aaron-Kai Wun and Fei-Din, the coming days will reveal whether Malaysia's doubles depth can deliver a medal in Nagoya.
Key takeaways
- Pearly-Thinaah, Aaron-Kai Wun and Sze Fei-Izzuddin reached the second round.
- Aaron-Kai Wun face world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae next.
- Fei-Din meet Japan's Hoki-Kobayashi in round two.
- Both mixed doubles pairs and Noraqilah-Zi Yu were eliminated.
FAQ
Who do Pearly Tan and Thinaah face in the second round? Thailand's Hathaithip Mijad and Napapakorn Tungkasatan.
Which Malaysian badminton pairs were eliminated in the first round? Women's pair Noraqilah Maisarah-Low Zi Yu, and both mixed doubles pairs, including world No. 10 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai.
Where is the Asian Games badminton being held? At the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture.
Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail, theSun