Haier Cup 2026 Concludes with Over 2,500 Players Across Five Malaysian States
TLDR
- Haier Cup 2026 welcomed more than 2,500 badminton players across Malaysia in its fourth edition
- Sabah made its debut in the nationwide circuit, joining Sarawak, Johor, Penang, and Selangor
- The tournament introduced its first-ever Open Category in Selangor alongside the main men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles
- A total prize pool of RM90,000 was up for grabs, alongside Haier products and Maxx merchandise
- Haier Cup Junior returned for a second year with close to 800 young players across six categories
A Nationwide Tournament Continues to Grow
The Haier Cup 2026 has wrapped up its fourth edition on a high note, drawing more than 2,500 badminton enthusiasts from across Malaysia into its expanded nationwide circuit. Run by Haier Malaysia, the tournament has steadily evolved from a single-state competition into one of the more recognisable grassroots badminton platforms in the country, and this year’s edition pushed the footprint further than ever before.
For the first time, Sabah joined the tournament lineup alongside the returning states of Sarawak, Johor, Penang, and Selangor. That expansion means the Haier Cup now spans both coasts of Malaysia and the entirety of Borneo, opening the door for players who previously had to travel long distances just to compete. The inclusion of Sabah is part of Haier’s stated ambition to grow the tournament into more communities in the years ahead.
Alongside the existing men’s singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles events, the Haier Cup 2026 also held its first-ever Open Category tournament in Selangor, giving players outside the state-level circuit a fresh stage to test themselves against new opponents.
Champions Crowned Across Five States
The 2026 edition saw intense competition across all three main categories, with champions emerging from each of the five participating states. In men’s singles, Mah Yan Quan of Sabah took the top honour, while Muhammad Aliff Isyraff of Sarawak, Neoh Yee Xiang of Johor, Chris Nahshon A/L Esu of Penang, and Low Eu Cong of Selangor rounded out the title winners. The men’s doubles title went to Mahamir Mahaguli and Muhammad Aliff Isyraff of Sarawak, with winning pairs from Johor, Penang, and Selangor completing the podium.
In mixed doubles, the championship was claimed by Lee Jia Ern and Tee Shun Xing of Sarawak, joined on the winners’ list by pairs from Sabah, Johor, Penang, and Selangor. The full list of champions reflects the depth of talent now participating in the Haier Cup, with each state fielding competitive players who pushed each other across the season.
Winners took home a share of the RM90,000 total prize pool in cash prizes, alongside Haier products and Maxx merchandise. The payout structure is designed to reward both top finishers and emerging talents who show promise throughout the season.
Nurturing the Next Generation
Beyond the main tournament, Haier Malaysia continued to invest in youth development through the return of the Haier Cup Junior, now in its second year. Close to 800 young aspiring players took part across Boys’ Singles, Girls’ Singles, Boys’ Doubles, Girls’ Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Mixed Gender Singles — a remarkable turnout that underlines the appetite for structured competition among Malaysian school-age players.
Following the tournament season, Haier Malaysia will continue nurturing young talent through the Haier ‘Be the Next Champion’ Development Programme. The programme aims to reach another 10,000 students from 20 schools nationwide by the end of 2026, which would bring its total reach to 20,000 students. Several promising players who have come through the programme have already made their mark at local and international competitions, including professional player Lim Ming Hong, who continues to compete on the international circuit with Haier Malaysia’s backing.
Haier Malaysia Managing Director Mr. Sun Menghao said the company is proud to see how the competition has brought badminton communities together and inspired more Malaysians to embrace the sport. He added that the inclusion of Sabah for the first time this year brought competitive badminton to even more Malaysians, and that future editions may extend the tournament to new communities and possibly a new state.
Our Take
The Haier Cup has quietly become one of the more meaningful grassroots badminton initiatives in Malaysia, and the 2026 edition is a clear step up from previous years. Bringing Sabah into the fold is the kind of expansion that matters — grassroots tournaments have historically been Peninsular-centric, and Sabahan players have had limited competitive outlets at this level. The Open Category in Selangor is another smart addition, giving non-state-affiliated players a clearer path into the action.
The RM90,000 prize pool is modest by international standards but generous for a domestic grassroots tournament, and the Haier Cup Junior turnout of 800 young players suggests that the development programme is hitting the right note with parents and schools. The bigger question now is whether Haier will continue to scale the tournament year-on-year, and whether other states like Perak, Kedah, or Terengganu come into the mix next. For now, the Haier Cup 2026 has set a benchmark that should keep Malaysian badminton talking well into the next season.
Source
Versi Bahasa Malaysia: Haier Cup 2026 Selesai Dengan Lebih 2,500 Pemain Merentasi Lima Negeri Malaysia
