Malaysia’s badminton squad for the 2026 Asian Games has been confirmed, with several established names missing from the final list, including men’s singles star Lee Zii Jia and doubles players Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong.
The decision means Malaysia will head to the continental Games without some of its biggest names, as the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) opts for a squad based on current form and long-term planning.
In the men’s singles event, Leong Jun Hao and Ng Tze Yong have been selected to represent Malaysia, while rising shuttler Justin Hoh will serve as the reserve player.
Source: Utusan Malaysia
World No. 2 pair Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani will lead Malaysia’s men’s doubles challenge. They will be joined by young duo Kang Khai Xing and Aaron Tai, who have been rewarded for their recent progress.
The absence of Zii Jia comes after the former All England champion struggled for consistency this season while dealing with injuries and a drop in the world rankings. The independent player recently returned to action after an extended break and has been working on regaining his best form.
Meanwhile, Olympic bronze medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, as well as Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, were also not included despite being among Malaysia’s more experienced doubles combinations.
For the women’s events, Malaysia are expected to rely on a mix of senior players and emerging talents as they aim to challenge for medals at the Games.
The 2026 Asian Games will provide an important opportunity for Malaysia’s younger shuttlers to gain valuable experience on the international stage, with the team management looking ahead to building depth for future major tournaments.
