Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik knock out holders Hoki-Kobayashi at Denmark Open as Leong Jun Hao and Letshanaa exit

Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik marked their return as a pair with a statement win at the Denmark Open, knocking out defending champions Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi of Japan 21-19, 14-21, 21-11 in the first round on Tuesday, 13 October. It was the highlight of a mixed opening day for Malaysia in Odense, where Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing also advanced but Leong Jun Hao, K. Letshanaa and the professional mixed pair Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien were all eliminated.

Aaron-Wooi Yik take down the holders

The fourth seeds needed 51 minutes to see off the Japanese pair at the SJF Bank Arena. Aaron and Wooi Yik edged a tight opening game 21-19, dropped the second 14-21, then pulled clear in the decider to win it 21-11.

The result carried extra weight because it was their first tournament back together after a spell apart, and Hoki and Kobayashi arrived as the reigning Denmark Open champions. The Malaysians are the last men's doubles pair from the country to lift the Odense title, having beaten Indonesia's Shohibul Fikri and Bagas Maulana in the 2023 final.

Their reward is a second-round meeting with either compatriots Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King, who won the Arctic Open on Sunday, or South Korea's Kang Min-hyuk and Lee Jong-min. That first-round match was listed as the opening tie on Court 1 on Wednesday, 14 October, at 9am in Odense, which is 3pm Malaysia time.

Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing through, Wong-Lim edged out

In mixed doubles, Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing beat Spain's Ruben Garcia and Lucia Rodriguez 21-18, 21-16 in 37 minutes. Next up is a much harder assignment against Thailand's Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran, one of the leading combinations in the world, who beat Taiwan's Wu Guan Xun and Lee Chia Hsin 21-18, 21-14.

Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien were not as fortunate. The professional pair took Taiwan's Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Gonzales Chan the distance but lost the deciding game 21-19 after 55 minutes.

Jun Hao's slow start proves costly

Men's singles player Leong Jun Hao went out to Japan's world No. 16 Koki Watanabe 6-21, 19-21 in 40 minutes. After a lopsided first game, the Malaysian led 15-12 and 17-16 in the second, only for Watanabe to recover and take the final points from 19-19.

The defeat extends a difficult run of early exits for the 27-year-old this season, and gives Watanabe a 4-3 lead in their head-to-head record.

Letshanaa falls to home favourite

In women's singles, K. Letshanaa was beaten by Denmark's Line Christophersen 5-21, 18-21 in 32 minutes. The Malaysian recovered from a heavy first-game defeat to make the second competitive, but the home player closed it out in straight games.

What comes next for Malaysia

The Denmark Open is a Super 750 tournament running from 13 to 18 October. Wednesday's schedule includes two notable men's doubles ties for Malaysia: an all-Malaysian clash between Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin and Nur Azriyn Ayub-Tan Wee Kiong, set for not before 6.10pm in Odense (12.10am on Thursday, 15 October, Malaysia time), and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun against Denmark's Christian and Rasmus Kjaer. Women's doubles second seeds Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah are also in the draw as they chase a first Denmark Open crown.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik beat defending champions Hoki-Kobayashi 21-19, 14-21, 21-11 in 51 minutes.
• Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing beat Spain's Garcia-Rodriguez 21-18, 21-16 and face Thailand's Dechapol-Supissara next.
• Leong Jun Hao lost 6-21, 19-21 to Koki Watanabe after leading 17-16 in the second game.
• K. Letshanaa and mixed pair Wong Tien Ci-Lim Chiew Sien also went out in the first round.
• Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King open on Wednesday at 3pm Malaysia time, with a possible all-Malaysian second round against Aaron-Wooi Yik.

FAQ

Who did Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik beat at the Denmark Open? They beat Japan's Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi, the defending champions, 21-19, 14-21, 21-11 in the first round on 13 October.

Which Malaysians lost on the opening day in Odense? Leong Jun Hao, K. Letshanaa, and the mixed doubles pair Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien were all knocked out in the first round.

When does the Denmark Open 2026 end? The Super 750 tournament runs from 13 to 18 October in Odense, with the finals on Sunday, 18 October.

Sources: Bernama, Utusan Malaysia, Media Selangor, RTM, The Star, BWF