China dominates 2026 Malaysia Masters, reaches four finals in Kuala Lumpur
Synopsis
China has reached all four finals at the 2026 Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur — men's singles, women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles — after sweeping Saturday's semifinals. With Thailand providing the main opposition in three of the four title matches, Sunday's finals will test whether China can complete a rare clean sweep at a BWF World Series event.
Key Takeaways
China booked spots in all four finals at the 2026 Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur on 23 May .
Li Shifeng beat Hu Zhe'an 21-17, 21-16 and faces Thailand's Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in the men's singles final.
Chen Yufei defeated Hina Akechi 21-11, 21-14 and will play Ratchanok Intanon in the women's singles final.
Chen Fanshutian and Luo Xumin won a three-game women's doubles semifinal 18-21, 21-9, 21-19 against fellow Chinese pair Bao Lijing and Cao Zihan .
Mixed doubles pair Gao Jiaxuan and Wei Yaxin overcame Denmark's Christiansen and Boje 22-24, 21-16, 21-18 to reach the final.
Chinese shuttlers cemented their dominance at the 2026 Malaysia Masters on Saturday, 23 May, booking spots in all four finals contested at the BWF World Series event in Kuala Lumpur. The sweep of the semifinal stage underlines China's commanding grip on world badminton heading into Sunday's title matches.
Men's and Women's Singles Finals Set
In men's singles, Li Shifeng dispatched compatriot Hu Zhe'an 21-17, 21-16 to claim his final berth. He will face Thailand's Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in Sunday's championship match. On the women's side, Chen Yufei was equally dominant, cruising past Japan's Hina Akechi 21-11, 21-14. Her final opponent will be Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon, setting up a marquee clash between two of the world's premier women's singles players.
Women's Doubles: All-China Battle Produces a Final
The women's doubles semifinal delivered the most dramatic contest of the day, as Chen Fanshutian and Luo Xumin rallied to overcome fellow Chinese pair Bao Lijing and Cao Zihan 18-21, 21-9, 21-19 in a three-game thriller. They will now face Japan's Sayaka Hirota and Ayako Sakuramoto in the final, with China's intra-squad rivalry giving way to an international showdown.
Mixed Doubles: Gao and Wei Survive Danish Test
Mixed doubles pair Gao Jiaxuan and Wei Yaxin navigated a gruelling three-game contest against Denmark's Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje, prevailing 22-24, 21-16, 21-18. They are set to meet Thailand's Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai in the gold-medal match, with Thailand presenting the stiffest challenge to China's potential clean sweep.
How China Got Here: Friday's Quarterfinals
China's run to four finals began in earnest on Friday, when its shuttlers swept through the quarterfound stage across disciplines. Men's singles world junior champion Hu Zhe'an came from a set down to beat Indonesia's Jonatan Christie 14-21, 21-13, 21-16, while Li Shifeng defeated France's Toma Junior Popov 21-18, 15-21, 21-5. Chen Yufei swept past Thailand's Pitchamon Opatniputh 21-19, 21-9.
In doubles, Bao Lijing and Cao Zihan edged Chinese Taipei's Chen Yan Fei and Sun Liang Ching 21-14, 18-21, 21-15, while Chen Fanshutian and Luo Xumin overpowered Japan's Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi 24-22, 21-18. Mixed doubles pair Gao Jiaxuan and Wei Yaxin beat Malaysia's Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei 21-18, 21-16, as Guo Xinwa and Chen Fanghui also advanced past USA's Presley Smith and Jennie Gai 23-21, 22-20.
Sunday's finals will reveal whether China can complete a clean sweep — a result that would further consolidate its status as the sport's most formidable nation heading into the second half of the 2026 BWF season.
Point of View
As Saturday's all-China women's doubles semifinal illustrated. Thailand's presence in three of the four finals is the more interesting subplot: it signals a genuine Southeast Asian resurgence in a sport long split between China and the traditional East Asian powers. If Thailand converts even one title on Sunday, the 2026 BWF season narrative shifts meaningfully. If China sweeps, the question of competitive parity in world badminton becomes harder to ignore.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many finals did China reach at the 2026 Malaysia Masters?
China reached all four finals at the 2026 Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur — men's singles, women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles — after dominant performances across Saturday's semifinals.
Who will Li Shifeng face in the Malaysia Masters men's singles final?
Li Shifeng will face Thailand's Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in Sunday's men's singles final, after defeating compatriot Hu Zhe'an 21-17, 21-16 in the semifinal.
Who is Chen Yufei's opponent in the women's singles final?
Chen Yufei will play Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon in the women's singles final after beating Japan's Hina Akechi 21-11, 21-14 in the semifinal.
What is the 2026 Malaysia Masters and where is it held?
The 2026 Malaysia Masters is a BWF World Series badminton tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is one of the premier stops on the international badminton calendar, drawing top-ranked players from across Asia and Europe.
Which mixed doubles pair will represent China in the final?
Gao Jiaxuan and Wei Yaxin will represent China in the mixed doubles final, having beaten Denmark's Mathias Christiansen and Alexandra Boje 22-24, 21-16, 21-18. They face Thailand's Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
