National shuttler Aaron Tai celebrated his 20th birthday on Tuesday, October 27, by testing himself against elite competition on a grueling European tour alongside partner Yap Roy King, 25. The partnership has faced former world champions, Olympic gold medallists, and top-ranked pairs across four tournaments this month.
Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King Stun Fifth Seeds at the Hylo Open
The Malaysian world No. 74 pair advanced to the Hylo Open semi-finals in Germany on Friday after dispatching fifth seeds Chiu Hsiang-chieh and Wang Chi-lin of Taiwan 21-16, 21-17. The match at the Saarlandhalle in Saarbrucken lasted just 30 minutes and delivered a notable scalp against Chi-lin, a two-time Olympic gold medallist. In the second round, Aaron and Roy King also upstaged Indonesian top seeds Sabar Karyaman and Moh Reza.
Tough Tests Against World Champions and Top-Ranked Pairs
The European swing brought baptism-of-fire encounters against the sport’s established elite. At the Denmark Open two weeks prior, Aaron and Roy King crossed paths with former world champions and national teammates Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the second round, falling short in that meeting. A week later at the French Open, they faced South Korea’s world No. 1 pair Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae, again bowing out in the second round. Despite both defeats, the national set-up under men’s doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi has made their partnership a permanent fixture.
HYLO Open 2026MD – QF 🇲🇾Aaron TAI🏅21 21 🇲🇾Roy King YAP🏅 Hsiang Chieh CHIU16 17 WANG Chi-Lin🕚 in 30 minutes
Upcoming Semifinal Clash Against Danish Opponents
Aaron and Roy King will face Denmark’s Christian Faust Kjaer and Rasmus Kjaer for a spot in the Hylo Open final. The Malaysian duo holds an advantage entering the fixture, having defeated the Danish pair earlier this month en route to capturing their maiden title together at the Arctic Open.
Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing Advance in Mixed Doubles
Unseeded mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing reached their third consecutive semi-final in as many weeks by defeating fifth seeds Chan Yin Chak and Ng Tsz Yau of Hong Kong 21-17, 21-17. The world No. 24 pair will next meet France’s reigning world champions Thom Gicquel and Delphine Delrue. Pang Ron and Lai will be hoping to go one better and secure their first title together.
Quarter-Final Results Across Divisions
Men’s singles matches saw Toma Junior Popov defeat Arnaud Merkle 21-14, 21-15, Jonatan Christie overcome Kodai Naraoka 21-8, 18-21, 21-11, Anders Antonsen beat Ditlev Jaegar Holm 21-11, 21-13, and Lakshya Sen defeat Kalle Koljonen 14-21, 21-17, 21-13. In men’s doubles, Julien Maio and William Villeger topped Daniel Lundgaard and Mads Vestergaard 25-23, 21-14, while Ben Lane and Sean Vendy beat Chen Chengkuan and Liu Kuangheng 21-18, 21-14, and Christian Faust Kjaer and Rasmus Kjaer defeated William Kryger Boe and Rasmus Espersen 21-13, 21-11.
Worth a look
