Euro magic as Malaysian shuttlers deliver title hat-trick & 7 finalists

History was made on Sunday when Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun bagged the French Open men’s doubles title, which meant Malaysia secured three top-tier titles in Europe over 19-days. 

It kicked off when scratch pair Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King went all the way to clinch the Super 500 Arctic Open men’s doubles crown on Oct 11.

The momentum continued when Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah secured the Denmark Open a week later to end an 18-year wait for a Malaysian women’s doubles pair to win this Super 750 event.

Oct 18 would have been more momentous had Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik claimed the men’s doubles silverware, but it was still a memorable occasion to have two national pairs on the podium.

The French Open would have produced an unmatched statistic if every result went the way of the Malaysian shuttlers.

In total, there were four finalists in Sunday’s final showcase in Paris contesting in the mixed doubles, women’s doubles and an all-Malaysian men’s doubles final.

As it played out, Hoo Pang Ron-Lai Pei Jing and Tan-Thinaah both lost their finals, but there was honour in their defeats as they defied the odds to get to the podium.

In the men’s doubles affair, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun celebrated their recent reunion with the Super 750 title after overcoming Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin.

So, across the Arctic Open, Denmark Open and French Open, there were three Malaysian champions and seven finalists.

A feat that has never been achieved before.

Back in 2023, the Malaysian shuttlers won two titles in two European events through Lee Zii Jia (Arctic Open) and Chia-Soh (Denmark Open).

Three titles in as many events this year, gives it an extra special meaning.

There could even be a fourth European title in the fourth event happening this week at the Hylo Open in Germany.

Perhaps it could come from a certain rejuvenated Lee, or even Tai-Yap and Hoo-Lai.