Hylo Open 2026: Aaron Tai-Roy King and Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing reach semi-finals

Malaysia will have two pairs in the Hylo Open semi-finals in Saarbrucken, Germany. Men's doubles pair Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King and mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing both won their quarter-finals at the Saarlandhalle on Friday (30 October). The Super 500 tournament carries US$500,000 (about RM2.03 million) in prize money. It reaches the semi-final stage on Saturday, 31 October, and the finals are on Sunday, 1 November.

Aaron-Roy King keep their run going

The unseeded Aaron and Roy King beat Taiwan's fifth seeds Chiu Hsiang Chieh-Wang Chi-Lin 21-16, 21-17 in about 30 minutes. In the round before, on Thursday, they knocked out Indonesia's top seeds Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani 22-20, 21-19.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) put the pair together only recently, as an experimental partnership with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in mind. Their start has been remarkable. They won the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, earlier this month, in their first tournament together, beating Taiwan's Lai Po-yu-Tsai Fu-cheng 21-19, 21-19 in the final. Free Malaysia Today reports that their ranking has climbed from No. 350 to No. 74 in about four weeks.

In the semi-finals they face Denmark's Christian Faust Kjaer-Rasmus Kjaer, ranked No. 26. The Danes beat compatriots William Kryger Boe-Rasmus Espersen 21-13, 21-11 in their quarter-final. The Malaysians beat the same Danish pair in straight games in the Arctic Open semi-finals.

Pang Ron-Pei Jing beat another seeded pair

Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing beat Hong Kong's seventh seeds Chan Yin Chak-Ng Tsz Yau 21-17, 21-17. On Thursday they beat Taiwan's fourth seeds Yang Po-hsuan-Hu Ling-fang 21-9, 21-16 in 25 minutes.

The pair have now reached five World Tour semi-finals in five months, from ten tournaments together. October has been their best month yet. They reached the Denmark Open semi-finals and then the final of the Super 750 French Open, where China's world No. 1 pair Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping beat them 21-10, 21-13. Those results lifted them to No. 24 in the world.

Their semi-final opponents are France's second seeds Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue, ranked No. 3. The French pair beat Germany's eighth seeds Marvin Seidel-Thuc Phuong Nguyen 21-12, 21-11.

A title would end a long wait for Pang Ron

Pang Ron has played as an independent professional since April. Before this week he told The Star that he and Pei Jing take each match "step by step". His last World Tour title was the 2019 Hyderabad Open with his former partner Cheah Yee See. Feng-Huang beat the Malaysians in both of their finals this year, the China Masters and the French Open, and the Chinese pair are not playing in Saarbrucken.

Lee Zii Jia and other Malaysians are out

The rest of the Malaysian players have gone out. Lee Zii Jia beat Singapore's Jason Teh Jia Heng in the first round. In the second round he lost 21-11, 13-21, 14-21 to Japan's fifth seed Kodai Naraoka. Badminton Planet reports that Lee played the tournament with a fever and stomach illness and has pulled out of next week's Korea Open to recover. In women's doubles, Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting lost their second-round match 16-21, 21-11, 20-22 to Hong Kong's eighth seeds Yeung Nga Ting-Yeung Pui Lam.

Saarbrucken is seven hours behind Malaysia, so the semi-finals run from Saturday afternoon in Germany into the night in Malaysia. Fans can follow scores on the BWF's official channels.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King (men's doubles) and Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing (mixed doubles) have reached the Hylo Open semi-finals.
• Aaron-Roy King play Denmark's Christian Faust Kjaer-Rasmus Kjaer, a pair they beat in the Arctic Open semi-finals this month.
• Pang Ron-Pei Jing play France's second seeds Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue.
• Lee Zii Jia lost in the second round and has withdrawn from the Korea Open because of illness.

FAQ

Q: When are the Hylo Open semi-finals and final? A: The semi-finals are on Saturday, 31 October, and the finals are on Sunday, 1 November, in Saarbrucken. Germany is seven hours behind Malaysia.

Q: Who are Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King playing in the semi-finals? A: Denmark's Christian Faust Kjaer and Rasmus Kjaer, ranked No. 26 in the world.

Q: What level of tournament is the Hylo Open? A: It is a BWF World Tour Super 500 event with US$500,000 in prize money.

Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail, The Star, Free Malaysia Today, Badminton Planet