Yeosu, South Korea, November 5, 2026: Malaysia’s Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing continued their impressive run at the 2026 Korea Open on Thursday, advancing to the mixed doubles quarterfinals with a convincing 21-8, 21-15 victory over South Korea’s Jin Sung Ik and Lee Seung Hee.
Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei’s Wang Po Wei produced a major men’s singles upset by defeating Indonesia’s Alwi Farhan in three games, while South Korea’s world No. 1 An Se Young comfortably advanced to the women’s singles last eight.
Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing Continue Strong Form
World No. 15 Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing needed just two games to overcome the Korean pair, ranked world No. 154, at Jinnam Stadium in Yeosu.
The Malaysians dominated the opening game 21-8 before completing their victory 21-15, securing a quarterfinal meeting with China’s top seeds Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin.
The result continues a productive stretch for Hoo and Lai, who reached the Denmark Open semifinals, finished runners-up at the French Open and made another semifinal appearance at the HYLO Open.
They now have an opportunity to reach the semifinals for the fourth consecutive tournament, although Jiang and Wei, ranked world No. 2, present a difficult challenge.
Watch: Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing vs. Jin Sung Ik and Lee Seung Hee Highlights
Video source: Nadi Badminton
Chen Tang Jie and Chan Wen Tse Eliminated by Chinese Third Seeds
Malaysia’s other mixed doubles representatives, Chen Tang Jie and Chan Wen Tse, were unable to join Hoo and Lai in the quarterfinals.
The world No. 179 combination lost 7-21, 13-21 to China’s third seeds Cheng Xing and Zhang Chi in 29 minutes.
Cheng and Zhang will next face Japan’s fifth seeds Akira Koga and Natsu Saito, who defeated Chinese Taipei’s He Zhi Wei and Liang Ching Sun 21-6, 21-10.
An Se Young Advances as Akane Yamaguchi Sets Up Indonesian Clash
South Korea’s An Se Young continued her pursuit of an 11th title this season with a comfortable 21-10, 21-12 victory over Malaysia’s Letshanaa Karupathevan.
Playing in front of home supporters, the world No. 1 controlled the match to advance to a quarterfinal meeting with Japan’s Riko Gunji.
The victory also extended An’s reported winning streak to 52 matches.
Elsewhere in women’s singles, Indonesia’s Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi recovered from losing the second game to defeat compatriot Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan 21-15, 17-21, 21-13.
Pratiwi will next face Japan’s second seed Akane Yamaguchi, who defeated India’s Anmol Kharb 21-18, 21-18.
Stoeva Sisters Survive Three-Game Battle in Women’s Doubles
Bulgaria’s third seeds Gabriela Stoeva and Stefani Stoeva fought back to defeat Japan’s Ririna Hiramoto and Chiharu Shida 19-21, 21-18, 21-19.
After losing the opening game, the Bulgarian sisters recovered to take the next two, booking a quarterfinal against the United States’ Lauren Lam and Allison Quynh Lee.
Lam and Lee advanced with a 21-19, 23-21 victory over Chinese Taipei’s Chen Yan Fei and Sun Liang Ching.
Japan’s second seeds Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi also survived a three-game contest, defeating Australia’s Laudya Chelsea Griselda and Japan’s Nozomi Shimizu 18-21, 21-9, 21-16.
The quarterfinals of the BWF World Tour Super 500 Korea Open will take place on Friday, November 6, with Hoo Pang Ron and Lai Pei Jing carrying Malaysia’s mixed doubles hopes against China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin.
Complete Tournament Results
Women’s Singles – Round of 16
An Se Young (South Korea) defeated Letshanaa Karupathevan (Malaysia), 21-10, 21-12.
Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi (Indonesia) defeated Thalita Ramadhani Wiryawan (Indonesia), 21-15, 17-21, 21-13.
Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) defeated Anmol Kharb (India), 21-18, 21-18.
Women’s Doubles – Round of 16
Gabriela Stoeva/Stefani Stoeva (Bulgaria) defeated Ririna Hiramoto/Chiharu Shida (Japan), 19-21, 21-18, 21-19.
Lauren Lam/Allison Quynh Lee (United States) defeated Chen Yan Fei/Sun Liang Ching (Chinese Taipei), 21-19, 23-21.
Rui Hirokami/Sayaka Hobara (Japan) defeated Isyana Syahira Meida/Rinjani Kwinara Nastine (Indonesia), 21-15, 17-21, 21-15.
Kim Hye Jeong/Lee Yeon Woo (South Korea) defeated Polina Buhrova/Yevheniia Kantemyr (Ukraine), 21-8, 21-15.
Kim Yu Jung/Lee Yu Lim (South Korea) defeated Luo Yi/Wang Ting Ge (China), 21-14, 21-17.
Li Yi Jing/Wang Yi Duo (China) defeated Hinata Suzuki/Nao Yamakita (Japan), 21-12, 22-20.
Chen Fan Shu Tian/Luo Xu Min (China) advanced against Bao Li Jing/Cao Zi Han (China) following retirement, with the score at 5-2 in the opening game.
Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi (Japan) defeated Laudya Chelsea Griselda (Australia)/Nozomi Shimizu (Japan), 18-21, 21-9, 21-16.
Mixed Doubles – Round of 16
Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin (China) defeated Haruki Kawabe/Kokona Ishikawa (Japan), 21-11, 21-18.
Hoo Pang Ron/Lai Pei Jing (Malaysia) defeated Jin Sung Ik/Lee Seung Hee (South Korea), 21-8, 21-15.
Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi (China) defeated Chen Tang Jie/Chan Wen Tse (Malaysia), 21-7, 21-13.
Akira Koga/Natsu Saito (Japan) defeated He Zhi Wei/Liang Ching Sun (Chinese Taipei), 21-6, 21-10.
Gao Jia Xuan/Wu Meng Ying (China) defeated Kim Jae Hyeon/Jang Ha Jeong (South Korea), 21-14, 21-19.
Yuta Watanabe/Maya Taguchi (Japan) defeated Hyun Su Min/Moon In Seo (South Korea), 21-7, 21-14.
Zhu Yi Jun/Li Qian (China) defeated Lee Sang Min/Park Kim Ji (South Korea), 21-10, 19-21, 21-16.
Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui (China) defeated Evgeni Panev/Gabriela Stoeva (Bulgaria), 21-8, 21-11.
