Taiwan’s two top-ranked badminton players are to compete against each other this afternoon in the opening round of the Malaysia Open men’s singles this week, the first tournament of the new season.
The BWF Super 1000 tournament is scheduled to run from today to Sunday at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. The draw features a high-stakes clash between Taiwanese veteran Chou Tien-chen and rising star Lin Chun-yi, ranked No. 6 and No. 12 in the world respectively, the two highest-ranking Taiwanese players.
The Malaysia Open is the first event on the year, starting just two weeks after the end of the 2025 BWF World Tour Finals.
Photo: CNA
Chou, who competed in last month’s event, was ousted in the group stage, but he finished the year with a record of 27 tournaments — more than any other men’s singles player in the world.
With his 36th birthday approaching on Thursday, Chou acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining peak physical condition given the hectic global tour schedule.
He said that he remains committed to the sport, regardless of his age.
“I will keep challenging my opponents and stick to that mindset, no matter how old I am,” he said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, two-time Olympic gold medalist Wang Chi-lin and partner Chiu Hsiang-chieh are to miss the BWF Super 1000 men’s doubles competition, as Chiu has a knee injury.
Their absence leaves world No. 14 Yang Po-hsuan and Lee Jhe-huei as the highest-ranked Taiwanese duo in that category.
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