Calm before storm as men keep eye on Indonesia

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

Malaysia’s men’s badminton team will begin their Asian Games campaign with a first-round match against Mongolia, using the opportunity to adapt and give experience to younger players. Success in this match is crucial as it sets the stage for a challenging quarter-final against top-seeded Indonesia, against whom Malaysia aims to end a medal drought since 2014.

Malaysia’s men’s badminton team is set to open their campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with a first-round match against Mongolia on Tuesday at Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium. The contest will serve as a preparatory step ahead of a highly anticipated quarter-final clash against traditional regional rivals Indonesia.

Kenneth Jonassen, the national singles coaching director, acknowledged the challenges posed by both the men’s and women’s team draws but expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to perform at their best in the competition. He emphasized the importance of resilience, strong belief, and confidence as key factors for success.

“If Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh take to the court against Mongolia, it will allow them to adapt to the venue and gain momentum before the tougher matches,” Jonassen said. The coaching staff may also use the match to give younger players like Eogene Ewe or Kong Wei Xiang valuable experience during the early stages.

Additionally, the men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Tee Kai Wun could feature in the opening round. The duo last played together in April during the Thomas Cup Finals in Horsens and the upcoming contest will provide an opportunity to assess their partnership ahead of more demanding encounters.

Although Mongolia has brought a relatively small contingent of eight players, Malaysia remains cautious. One of Mongolia’s notable competitors is Usukh-Ireedui Uulensolongo, who recently secured a bronze medal in the under-19 boys’ singles at the Central Asian Badminton Championships in Khujand, Tajikistan.

Indonesia, the tournament’s top seed, will bypass the opening round and proceed directly to the quarter-finals, presenting Malaysia with a challenging test should they advance. Malaysia has not medaled in the men’s team event at the Asian Games since winning bronze at Incheon in 2014 and will look to break that drought in this edition.

The men’s team event is scheduled to unfold over several days, with Malaysia aiming to build momentum against Mongolia before their anticipated quarter-final showdown with Indonesia.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.