Korea Open 2026: 14 Matches in 23 Days, Pang Ron-Pei Jing Keep Winning as Malaysian Mixed Pairs Advance
Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing showed no signs of tiredness to reach the Korea Open second round, as Malaysia’s new pair Chen Tang Jie and partner also advanced and top seed Chou Tien-chen crashed out.
Pang Ron-Pei Jing Keep Rolling
Malaysia’s independent mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing, known as Pang Ron-Pei Jing, needed only 30 minutes to beat a Thai pair ranked No. 76 in the world. They won 21-10, 21-14 to reach the second round of the Korea Open, a BWF World Tour Super 500 event in Yeosu.
The win was their 11th in 14 matches since the Denmark Open began on October 13. In just 23 days, the world No. 15 pair have played in five tournaments in a row. They lost in the first round of the Arctic Open, but then reached the semi-finals in Denmark, finished runners-up at the French Open and reached the semi-finals again at the Hylo Open.
Pang Ron-Pei Jing first teamed up at the Malaysia Masters in May. They will face a home South Korean pair next as they chase their first BWF World Tour crown together.
Tough Test for New National Pair
Malaysia’s new national mixed doubles pair, Chen Tang Jie and his partner, also won easily. They beat an Australian pair 21-9, 21-14 in only 25 minutes.
The world No. 179 pair now face a much bigger challenge against China’s third seeds Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi, who are ranked No. 8 in the world. The Chinese pair beat them in straight games in the first round of last year’s Malaysia Masters.
Goh V Shem’s Cross-Border Pair Advance
In men’s doubles, Malaysia’s Goh V Shem and his South Korean partner Choi Sol-gyu beat a Korean pair 21-17, 21-23, 21-16. They will face Japan’s former world champions Takuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi in the last 16.
Including Goh’s cross-border pair, Malaysia have “two and a half” men’s doubles pairs in the last 16. Third seeds Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, and an independent pair, had already reached the second round on the first day. Both will play pairs from Taiwan next.
Letshanaa to Face An Se-young
Letshanaa Karupathevan beat a Thai player ranked No. 64 in the world 21-17, 21-18. She is the only Malaysian singles player left in the tournament. Next, she will face South Korea’s An Se-young, the world No. 1 and top seed.
There was heartbreak for Wong Ling Ching, who lost a 70-minute battle to an Indonesian opponent 21-17, 21-23, 22-20. Wong saved three match points to win the second game. In the decider, she came from 18-15 down to win five points in a row and had two match points at 20-18. But she then lost four straight points to go out. Japan’s second seed and defending champion Akane Yamaguchi reached the second round as expected.
Top Seed Chou Knocked Out
The men’s singles draw saw two big upsets. Taiwan’s top seed Chou Tien-chen lost to his compatriot 21-18, 12-21, 21-12, and Japan’s third seed Kodai Naraoka was beaten 15-21, 21-17, 21-15 by Taiwan’s Lee Chia-hao.
Canada’s second seed Brian Yang advanced and will play China’s Zhu Xuanchen next, while China’s Hu Zhe An will face Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu.