Back on the BWF Tour: Zii Jia Starts Arctic Open in Qualifying as Pearly-Thinaah Head to Europe
Badminton's World Tour resumes in Finland days after the Asian Games, with Lee Zii Jia in qualifying and Pearly-Thinaah preparing for Denmark and France.
Malaysia's shuttlers have little time to think about Aichi-Nagoya. The BWF World Tour returns this week with the Arctic Open (Super 500) in Vantaa, Finland, from 6 to 11 October. Several bigger European events follow straight after.
Zii Jia in qualifying
The biggest Malaysian name in Vantaa is Lee Zii Jia. He won the Arctic Open in 2023, but this time he has to come through qualifying.
Zii Jia, 28, is ranked No. 56 in the world. Only the top 32 are guaranteed a main-draw place at events of this level. According to The Star, his qualifier is on Tuesday against Japan's Minoru Koga. If he wins, his first-round opponent is China's Dong Tianyao.
Zii Jia turned down an invitation to the Asian Games because he was unhappy with his form. He has since lost early at the Korea Masters in August and the Vietnam Open in September.
"Obviously, the results in the last two tournaments have not been good. We can only keep working hard," coach Liew Daren told The Star. He said he hoped results would improve.
Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who won the Asian Games singles title in Nagoya, is the top seed in Vantaa. The Star reports that Malaysia also has men's and mixed doubles pairs entered.
Pearly-Thinaah: from bronze to rebuilding
Malaysia's only badminton medal in Nagoya came from world No. 5 Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, who won women's doubles bronze. Neither men's nor women's team reached the podium.
Women's doubles coach Rosman Razak told The Star the pair had been through a difficult few months. Pearly had a serious injury, and Thinaah suffered personal losses before the Games.
"I hope it will be a stepping stone for them to rebuild their confidence and regain their belief," Rosman said.
The pair's next events are in Denmark and France. Rosman said the top of women's doubles is very close. "Among the top six pairs in the world, anyone can beat anyone on any given day," he said. He named China's Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning and South Korea's Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee among the leaders.
He also said former international Wong Pei Tty has joined the coaching staff to work with younger women's doubles pairs.
The European swing
The remaining calendar for 2026, according to the BWF World Tour schedule:
| Dates | Tournament | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 6–11 Oct | Arctic Open, Vantaa | Super 500 |
| 13–18 Oct | Denmark Open, Odense | Super 750 |
| 20–25 Oct | French Open, Paris | Super 750 |
| 27 Oct–1 Nov | Hylo Open, Saarbrücken | Super 500 |
| 3–8 Nov | Korea Open, Yeosu | Super 500 |
| 10–15 Nov | Japan Masters, Kumamoto | Super 500 |
| 17–22 Nov | Hong Kong Open | Super 500 |
| 9–13 Dec | World Tour Finals, Hangzhou | Finals |
Why these weeks matter
These are the last chances to earn points to qualify for the World Tour Finals in Hangzhou in December. With the Asian Games over, attention moves to ranking points and, further ahead, the LA28 Olympics.
For Zii Jia, winning matches is the first priority. For Pearly-Thinaah, the target is to show they can still beat the best pairs in the world.
Key takeaways
- The BWF World Tour resumes with the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, from 6 to 11 October.
- Lee Zii Jia, ranked No. 56, starts in qualifying against Japan's Minoru Koga.
- Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, Asian Games bronze medallists, are heading to the Denmark and French Opens.
- The World Tour Finals are in Hangzhou from 9 to 13 December.
FAQ
Why is Lee Zii Jia playing qualifiers? At world No. 56 he is outside the top 32, who are guaranteed main-draw places at Super 500 events.
When is the Denmark Open 2026? 13–18 October in Odense. It is a Super 750 event.
What did Malaysia win in badminton at the Asian Games? One bronze, in women's doubles, through Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah.
Sources: The Star, BWF World Tour calendar