Soh Wooi Yik-Aaron Tai stun world No. 10 pair to reach China Masters quarter-finals

Wooi Yik-Aaron pulled off an upset against China’s world number 10 pair, Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi, winning in straight sets 21-13, 21-18 in just 40 minutes during their Round of 16 clash. — Bernama file picture

First Published: Thursday, 03 Sep 2026 7:57 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — Malaysia’s challenge in the singles category at the China Masters 2026 came to an end today but “scratch pair” Soh Wooi Yik-Aaron Tai kept the national flag flying high by storming into the quarter-finals at the Shenzhen Arena.

Despite being a temporary combination, Wooi Yik-Aaron pulled off an upset against China’s world number 10 pair, Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi, winning in straight sets 21-13, 21-18 in just 40 minutes during their Round of 16 clash.

The Malaysian duo will next face either another home pair, Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi or He Ji Ting-Ren Xiang Yu in the quarter-finals.

In the mixed doubles, veteran pair and eighth seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai also secured their spot in the last eight after a hard-fought battle against Japan’s Akira Koga-Natsu Saito with the Malaysians regaining their composure to seal the match 21-14, 19-21, 21-10.

Soon Huat-Shevon, who hold a superior head-to-head record against their next opponents are set to face China’s Gao Jia Xuan-Wu Meng Ying for a place in the semi-finals.

However, it was the end of the road for the nation’s singles department after K. Letshanaa fell to world number two Wang Zhi Yi,10-21, 8-21, marking her fourth consecutive defeat to the Chinese star in women’s singles category. 

In the women’s doubles, the young pair of Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah also saw their run come to an end after losing 13-21, 16-21 to China’s formidable duo, Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian.