Taiwan Open draw and qualifying
Malaysia's Eogene Ewe, recently named to Malaysia's Asian Games squad for Aichi-Nagoya in September, will make his Taiwan Open debut on July 29 at the Taipei Arena, seeking to extend the form that took him to his first semi-final of the year at the Macau Open. The world No. 80 will open against India's Saneeth Dayanand (No. 74), with a likely second-round meeting against home favourite Chou Tien-chen, who captured the China Open title the previous week. Fellow Malaysian Justin Hoh faces fifth seed Zaki Ubaidillah of Indonesia, while Lee Zii Jia begins his campaign against Taiwan's Liao Jhuo-fu. Cheam June Wei and Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, however, were eliminated in the qualifying rounds on July 28, ending Malaysia's additional men's singles representation in the main draw. June Wei, fresh from winning the Lin Dan Cup for the fourth time, lost 21-15, 14-21, 19-21 to Taiwan's Hung Ping-hsien, while Aidil fell 16-21, 21-19, 16-21 to South Korea's Choi Ji-hoon.
Philippines International Challenge returns
Eighteen-year-old Dania Sofea Zaidi returned to international competition at the Philippines International Challenge in Manila on July 28, nine months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury to her left knee in the Under-18 Mixed Team Championships final in Penang last August. Dania is partnering Goh Boon Zhe in the mixed doubles and faces Vietnam's Pham Van Truong and Bui Pich Phuong in the opening round. Her previous competitive action came at the National Under-21 Championships leg in Kuantan last month, where she and Tan Zhing Hui reached the girls' doubles final. Valeree Siow, also returning from a knee injury suffered at the Malaysian Masters in May last year, partnered Datu Anif Isaar Datu Asrah in mixed doubles and meets Thailand's Phuttimeth Semkunta and Kraita Nakthongtip.
Allianz Junior Badminton Championship in Johor
At the Allianz Junior Badminton Championship (AJBC) 2026 Qualifying Round 3 in Johor Bahru, defending Grand Finals champion Putera Raees Rafael Sulaiman swept the boys' Under-15 doubles and singles titles. The 14-year-old partnered Muhammad Darwisy Al-Qhardawi Mohd Shaharin to defeat Keith Leow Chee Jian and Lee Wen Hao 15-7, 15-8 in the doubles final, then beat his own partner 17-15, 21-19 in the singles final. Ko Zhi Ching claimed the girls' Under-13 singles and doubles titles alongside Lim Xue Er, while Chang Sao Tang won the Under-13 boys' singles and paired with Wan Jia Jun for the doubles. Under-13 and Under-15 finalists advance to the AJBC Grand Finals later this year in Kuala Lumpur, with Allianz Malaysia Berhad organising the fifth edition in collaboration with the Badminton Association of Malaysia and the Ministry of Education.
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