Malaysia at the 2026 Thomas and Uber Cup
Malaysia competed in the 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup Finals, held from April 24 to May 3, 2026, at the Forum Horsens in Horsens, Denmark. This edition marked the 34th staging of the Thomas Cup (men’s team world championship) and the 31st staging of the Uber Cup (women’s team world championship).
The Malaysian men’s team entered the tournament with high expectations, boasting three pairs in the world’s top ten rankings, while the women’s team faced a significant setback just days before the commencement of the event following the withdrawal of star doubles player Pearly Tan due to a recurring back injury.
Squads
Thomas Cup
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) named a balanced squad consisting of seasoned veterans and rising stars. The team was spearheaded by the world number two pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.
| Name | DoB/Age | MS Ranking | MD Ranking |
| Aidil Sholeh | 9 January 2000 (aged 26) | 52 | — |
| Aaron Chia | 24 February 1997 (aged 29) | — | 2 |
| Goh Sze Fei | 18 August 1997 (aged 28) | — | 7 |
| Justin Hoh | 1 April 2004 (aged 22) | 40 | — |
| Nur Izzuddin | 11 November 1997 (aged 28) | — | 7 |
| Lee Zii Jia | 29 March 1998 (aged 28) | 83 | — |
| Leong Jun Hao | 13 July 1999 (aged 26) | 23 | — |
| Man Wei Chong | 5 September 1999 (aged 26) | — | 6 |
| Soh Wooi Yik | 17 February 1998 (aged 28) | — | 2 |
| Tee Kai Wun | 17 April 2000 (aged 26) | — | 6 |
Uber Cup
The women’s squad was characterized by its youth, featuring 15-year-old Low Zi Yu. Following Pearly Tan’s withdrawal, the doubles responsibility shifted heavily toward Thinaah Muralitharan and the younger pairs.
| Name | DoB/Age | WS Ranking | WD Ranking |
| Goh Jin Wei | 30 January 2000 (aged 26) | 51 | — |
| Letshanaa Karupathevan | 19 August 2003 (aged 22) | 37 | — |
| Low Zi Yu | 21 August 2010 (aged 15) | 904 | 172 |
| Noraqilah Maisarah | 11 July 2007 (aged 18) | — | 180 |
| Ong Xin Yee | 23 October 2006 (aged 19) | 25 | — |
| Pearly Tan (Withdrew) | 14 March 2000 (aged 26) | — | 2 |
| Thinaah Muralitharan | 3 January 1998 (aged 28) | — | 2 |
| Carmen Ting | 8 June 2006 (aged 19) | — | 25 |
| Wong Ling Ching | 7 October 2003 (aged 22) | 38 | — |
| Siti Zulaikha | 26 July 2006 (aged 19) | 90 | — |
Draw and Group Stage
The draw for the tournament took place on March 18, 2026, in Horsens. Both the Malaysian men’s and women’s teams were drawn into Group B.
Thomas Cup (Group B)
Malaysia’s men were placed alongside heavyweights Japan, as well as England and Finland. Analysts predicted a two-way battle between Malaysia and Japan for the top spot in the group, though England’s doubles strength was noted as a potential threat.
Uber Cup (Group B)
The women’s team faced a daunting task against Japan, alongside Türkiye and South Africa. With the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals, Malaysia was favored to finish at least second, despite the loss of Pearly Tan.
Results
Thomas Cup
The following table tracks Malaysia’s progress in the group stage.
| Date | Opponent | Start Time | Result | MS1 | MD1 | MS2 | MD2 | MS3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 25 | vs. England | 12:00 UTC+2 | TBD | — | — | — | — | — |
| April 27 | vs. Finland | 12:00 UTC+2 | TBD | — | — | — | — | — |
| April 29 | vs. Japan | 10:00 UTC+2 | TBD | — | — | — | — | — |
Uber Cup
The Uber Cup results prioritize the rebuilding phase of the women’s singles and the makeshift doubles combinations.
| Date | Opponent | Start Time | Result | WS1 | WD1 | WS2 | WD2 | WS3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 25 | vs. Türkiye | 8:30 UTC+2 | TBD | — | — | — | — | — |
| April 26 | vs. South Africa | 12:00 UTC+2 | TBD | — | — | — | — | — |
| April 27 | vs. Japan | 12:00 UTC+2 | TBD | — | — | — | — | — |
Campaign Analysis
Men’s Team (Thomas Cup)
The men’s team entered the 2026 campaign with one of the strongest doubles lineups in the history of the competition. With three pairs (Chia/Soh, Goh/Izzuddin, and Man/Tee) all capable of beating world-class opponents, the pressure rested on the singles department. Leong Jun Hao (ranked 23) and Justin Hoh (ranked 40) were expected to carry the bulk of the points, especially with Lee Zii Jia entering the tournament with a lower ranking of 83.
Women’s Team (Uber Cup)
The withdrawal of Pearly Tan cast a shadow over Malaysia’s Uber Cup aspirations. The coaching staff had to rely on Thinaah Muralitharan to lead a young group of doubles players, including the teenage sensation Low Zi Yu. In the singles category, Letshanaa Karupathevan and Wong Ling Ching showed promising form during the Badminton Asia Team Championships earlier in the year, providing hope for a quarterfinal berth.
Will the Men’s Doubles depth be enough to overcome Japan’s balanced squad and secure the top seed for the knockout rounds?
