Malaysia’s Jimmy Wong-Lai Pei Jing and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin suffer straight-sets defeats in their opening matches at the All England 2026 tournament

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s campaign in the mixed doubles at the All England 2026 tournament suffered an early double blow on the opening day.

Both national pairs competing in the discipline were eliminated in straight sets during the first round at the Utilita Arena Birmingham.

The professional pairing of Jimmy Wong and Lai Pei Jing opened Malaysia’s challenge but fell 17-21, 18-21 to Taiwan’s Ye Hong Wei and Nicole Gonzales Chan in a 36-minute encounter.

This marked the second consecutive defeat for the Malaysian duo against the same opponents, having also lost to them at the 2025 Japan Masters.

National pair Hoo Pang Ron and Cheng Su Yin met a similar fate, losing 17-21, 19-21 to India’s Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Crasto in a 41-minute match.

Despite a promising start, the world number 23-ranked Malaysians could not maintain their consistency, suffering their second defeat in three meetings against the Indian duo.

Attention now shifts to four other Malaysian representatives beginning their campaigns.

Top national mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei will lead the charge alongside men’s doubles pairs Choong Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal Nazri and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi.

National men’s singles player Leong Jun Hao is also in action, with all matches scheduled for early tomorrow morning Malaysian time.

The prestigious tournament is set to run until Sunday.

 The Sun Malaysia