Kuala lumpur: Men's doubles pair Kang Khai Xing-Aaron Tai stole the limelight at the Japan Open 2026 after staging a sensational comeback to book their spot in the second round, today. The unseeded Malaysians produced a remarkable "giant-killing" act by knocking out China's seventh seeds, Chen Bo Yang-Liu Yi in a 60-minute first-round thriller.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, after a crushing 11-21 loss in the opening set, Khai Xing-Aaron showed nerves of steel to survive a heart-stopping marathon deuce before snatching the second set 26-24. The youngsters maintained their momentum in the decider to win 21-15 and effectively level their head-to-head record against the Chinese pair at 1-1. Khai Xing-Aaron are now set for a showdown against Taiwan's Lee Jhe Huei-Yang Po Hsuan in the round of 16.

The country's leading pair and the tournament's fifth seeds Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin also advanced in style after dispatching China's Hu Ke Yuan-Lin Xiang Yi 22-20, 21-18. The Malaysian duo took 37 minutes to wrap up the victory in what was their first-ever encounter against the world number 30 pair and will next battle Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen from Denmark.

However, it was a day of mixed fortunes for the national camp as world number five Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah suffered a shocking early exit. Despite a dominant 21-9 win in the first set, the top national women's pair lost their rhythm to fall 17-21, 17-21 to Taiwan's Hsu Yin Hui-Lin Jhih Yun. This disappointing result marks Pearly-Thinaah's first-ever defeat to the world number 12 pair in four career meetings.

Another women's doubles pair, Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting were also eliminated after losing 12-21, 18-21 to South Korea's powerhouse Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee.