Malaysian badminton takes a hit as Lee Zii Jia and Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin will not compete at the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) 2026 in Ningbo, China, from April 7-12. Despite earlier hopes for last-minute entries, no withdrawals among the initial 40 players materialized by Monday’s deadline, leaving Malaysia with a reduced squad for the prestigious event.
With the top Malaysian stars absent, world No. 23 Leong Jun Hao and world No. 40 Justin Hoh now carry the burden of expectation. Both face formidable opening-round matches against higher-ranked Indonesian opponents. Leong Jun Hao will meet world No. 4 and reigning champion Jonatan Christie. Their rivalry is balanced at 3-3, with Christie winning their last encounter at the Malaysia Open. Jun Hao’s fighting spirit could turn the tables if he delivers his best.
Justin Hoh, 21, faces world No. 14 Alwi Farhan. Their junior rivalry favors the Indonesian 5-2, but this match offers Hoh a chance to prove himself against a top-tier senior player who recently won the Indonesia Masters. These opening-round showdowns carry extra weight as indicators for the Thomas Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24-May 3. Should Malaysia meet Indonesia in the team knockout stages, these same matchups could influence the outcome, making BAC performance critical for morale and confidence.
Source: The Star
Malaysian women’s singles players also face tough draws. World No. 36 K. Letshanaa meets world No. 34 Tanvi Sharma of India, fresh from the Orleans Masters semi-finals. World No. 37 Wong Ling Ching squares off against former world champion P.V. Sindhu, ranked No. 13, presenting a stern test of resilience and strategy. Goh Jin Wei begins in the qualifying stage, where she is heavily favored to advance from Group A against Saudi Arabia’s Khadijah Khawtar and the Philippines’ Mikaela Joy De Guzman. Should she reach the main draw, a potential clash with former world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan, the Orleans Masters winner, could await.
Malaysia’s squad may be leaner than expected, but the tournament offers opportunities for rising stars to make a mark and gain momentum ahead of the Thomas Cup. Strong performances from Jun Hao, Hoh, and the women’s singles players could reinforce Malaysia’s standing on the continental stage.
