The return to competition of Lee Zii Jia will be one of the highlights of this week’s PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2026.

The Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist endured an injury-hit 2025 season, featuring in just six matches and has not taken to court since the Hong Kong Open in September. Lee will open his campaign on Tuesday against rising Indian youngster Ayush Shetty.

The Malaysian, however, faces a challenging path in a stacked top half of the draw that also features world No.1 Shi Yu Qi, HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2025 champion Christo Popov, Anders Antonsen and Chou Tien Chen.

Several other eyecatching encounters are on the cards, including Antonsen’s clash with Loh Kean Yew, Liang Wei Keng/Wang Chang against former world champions Takuro Hoki/Yugo Kobayashi and the mixed doubles showdown between Chen Tang Jie/Toh Ee Wei and Indonesia’s Jafar Hidayatullah/Felisha Pasaribu. Their compatriots Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin, who impressed by winning the Australian Open two months ago, will be making their Super 1000 debut.

Japan’s Nami Matsuyama will also return to mixed doubles competition for the first time in five years, partnering Hiroki Midorikawa. The pair were promoted following the withdrawal of Ruttanapak Oupthong/Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat.

All five winners from the last edition, including women’s singles star An Se Young, are back to defend their titles.

Other withdrawals and promotions as follows.

Withdrawals

Women’s singles: Han Quan Xi, Unnati Hooda

Women’s doubles: Go Pei Kee/Teoh Mei Xing, Mizuki Otake/Miyu Takahashi

Promotions

Women’s singles: Pitchamon Opatniputh, Huang Yu-Hsun

Women’s doubles: Ornnicha Jongsathapornparn/Sukitta Suwachai, Kavipriya Selvam/Simran Singhi

Click here to view the updated draw.

PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2026 starts tomorrow, with the first match scheduled at 9am Kuala Lumpur time (UTC +8).