TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's mixed doubles duo Chen Cheng-kuan (陳政寬) and Hsu Yin-hui (許尹鏸) secured a thrilling victory at the 2026 Malaysia Open on Tuesday (Jan. 6), defeating Denmark's Mads Vestergaard and Christine Busch in a three-game match. The Danish pair, ranked 24th globally, fell to the Taiwanese team in the Super 1000 tournament, marking a promising start to 2026 for Taiwan's badminton contingent. The upset victory advances Chen and Hsu in one of badminton's premier competitions.
Chen and Hsu, ranked 28th by the Badminton World Federation, are both 22 years old and considered Taiwan's rising stars in mixed doubles badminton. Their performance peaked last April and May with a career-high rank of 19, although subsequent losses caused a drop in their standings. Despite the ranking decline, they showcased resilience and skill against their higher-ranked Danish opponents in the prestigious Super 1000 tournament in Malaysia.
In the first game, the Taiwanese duo overcame a deficit by launching an 8-1 run at 13-16 to seize the lead and win 21-19. The second game saw them trailing slightly, and despite tying the score three times near the end, they conceded 19-21 to force a decisive third game. Chen's smashes and strategic rotations helped Taiwan pull ahead at 15-15, securing match point at 20-17 before clinching victory despite Denmark closing in with two late points.
The Malaysia Open features four Taiwanese mixed doubles teams, with Chen and Hsu leading the charge following their opening victory. Yang Po-hsuan (楊博軒) and Hu Ling-fang (胡綾芳), Ye Hong-wei (葉宏蔚) and Nicole Chan (詹又蓁), and Wu Guan-Xun (吳冠勳) and Lee Chia-hsin (李佳馨) will also compete in the tournament. The victory sets a positive tone for Taiwan's contingent, inspiring anticipation for their upcoming matches in the prestigious badminton competition. ◼