TAIPEI — World No. 7 and home favorite Chou Tien Chen continued his march toward a record fifth Taipei Open title, overpowering Malaysia’s Aidil Sholeh 21-14, 21-16 to reach the men’s singles quarterfinals.
Chou, the tournament’s top seed, shared after the match that he was familiar with Aidil’s playing style, having previously trained together in Malaysia. That preparation paid off as Chou controlled the match and thrilled local fans with his sharp tactics. He now faces 17-year-old Indonesian talent Moh. Zaki Ubaidillah, highlighting a generational clash between the 35-year-old veteran and the young challenger.
Justin Hoh Upsets Defending Champion
Malaysia’s rising star Justin Hoh pulled off one of the day’s biggest shocks by defeating defending champion and world No. 17 Lin Chun Yi in straight sets, 21-17, 21-18, in just 46 minutes. Ranked No. 45 in the world, the 20-year-old showcased exceptional control and composure to book a quarterfinal showdown against another Taiwanese player, Wang Tze Wei.
Watch Highlights of Chou Tien Chen vs. Aidil Sholeh in the 2025 Taipei Open:
In the women’s singles, K. Letshanaa also delivered a thrilling performance, advancing to her first Super 300 quarterfinal after a gritty 21-19, 17-21, 26-24 win over Taiwan’s Chiu Pin Chian. The 21-year-old Malaysian now faces world No. 15 Sim Yu Jin of South Korea for a place in the semifinals.
Malaysian Doubles Shine
Malaysia’s mixed doubles reshuffles are paying off:
Toh Ee Wei, partnering with Loo Bing Kun, advanced after a 15-21, 23-21, 21-8 comeback win over Korea’s Ki Dong Ju-Jeong Na Eun. They next face Indonesia’s Dejan Ferdinansyah-Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti.
Chen Tang Jie, paired with Chan Wen Tse, also marched into the quarterfinals, overcoming Indonesia’s Marwan Faza-Aisyah Salsabila 18-21, 21-18, 21-17. They now face Indonesia’s Bobby Setiabudi-Melati Daeva Oktavianti, who earlier upset Japan’s No. 2 seeds Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito.
Interestingly, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei were recently reunited after a temporary split following a misunderstanding at the Sudirman Cup. Fans can expect to see them reunited officially at the upcoming Singapore Open from May 27 to June 1.
