Malaysian men’s doubles pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Wan Arif Wan Junaidi-Yap Roy King advance, setting up an all-Malaysian second-round clash at the All England

MALAYSIA has confirmed at least one quarter-finalist at the All England 2026 after two national men’s doubles pairs won their opening matches.

World number two pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (pic) comfortably defeated Chen Zhi Yi and Presley Smith of the United States 21-17, 21-17 at the Utilita Arena Birmingham.

Their compatriots Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Yap Roy King secured a hard-fought victory over Denmark’s Daniel Lungaard and Mads Vestergaard 21-19, 18-21, 21-18.

The two Malaysian pairs are now scheduled to face each other in the second round. The head-to-head record favours Aaron and Wooi Yik, who have won both previous encounters at the Thailand Open and last year’s World Championships.

Professional pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani also progressed, defeating Japan’s Kakeru Kugamai and Hiroki Nishi 21-10, 21-15.

The world number eight duo will next face Indonesia’s Muhammad Rian Ardianto and Rahmat Hidayat, who beat Taiwan’s Liu Kuang Heng and Yang Po Han 21-10, 21-16.

Sixth seeds Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun began strongly with a 21-17, 21-16 win over Taiwan’s Lee Fang-Chih and Lee Fang-Jen.

They will meet another Taiwanese pair, Chiu Hsiang Chieh and Wang Chi-Lin, in the next round.

In women’s doubles, second seeds Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah advanced with a 21-19, 21-13 win over Japan’s Arisa Igarashi and Chiharu Shida.

They are set to face South Korea’s Lee Seo Jin and Lee Yeon Woo, who overcame a tough challenge from Americans Lauren Lam and Allison Lee Quiynh 21-19, 15-21, 21-17.

However, Malaysia’s other women’s pair Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting were eliminated, losing 17-21, 8-21 to fifth seeds Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto of Japan.

The mixed doubles campaign also ended as professional pair Wong Tien Ci and Lim Chiew Sien fell to China’s Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui 21-17, 12-21, 9-21.

 The Sun Malaysia