Sze Fei-Izzuddin, Pearly-Thinaah a match away from medal

Malaysian badminton pairs Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Pearly Tan-M Thinaah are on the brink of a bronze medal, mirroring Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik's accomplishment from the 2022 Asian Games. The Malaysian duo secured victories over their Japanese and Thai opponents in the round of 16, leaving them just one match away from claiming at least a bronze.

Ranked world No 6, Goh triumphed over Japan's ninth-ranked pair, Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kabayashi, in 35 minutes, while Pearly-Thinaah, world No 5, defeated Thailand's Napapakorn Tungkasatan-Hathaithip Mijad in 29 minutes. Their quarter-final opponents in badminton are the world No 3 Chinese pair, Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang, presenting a sterner challenge.

In the women's doubles, Pearly-Thinaah's team will face India's world No 26 pair, Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly, who recently defeated Japan's third-ranked pair, Yuki Fukushima-Mayu Matsumoto. If successful, Malaysia would secure a men's doubles bronze, as they did at the previous Asian Games in 2022, led by Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei also earned a bronze in women's doubles at the 2014 Asian Games.