In local badminton, Sabah's junior shuttlers emerged as runners-up at the first leg of the Affin-100Plus Junior Elite Tour 2026 in Alor Setar. The team secured a total of eight medals, including two golds won by Avrirlle Tan in the Under-12 girls' singles and the pair of Izz Hadirah and Wisyah Zahrah in the girls' doubles. Sabah finished closely behind the host state, Kedah, in the overall standings. 

On the national front, former performance director Wong Choong Hann voiced concerns today regarding the recurring injuries affecting Malaysia's singles players. He noted that these fitness issues, rather than a lack of talent, are disrupting the momentum of the country's top prospects. This comes as the Badminton World Federation (BWF) prepares for a major world tour overhaul from 2027, which will see the Malaysia Open expand its field to meet rising global demands. 

Furthermore, Malaysian badminton legend Lee Chong Wei recently warned current shuttlers over poor training habits, urging a return to disciplined roots to regain international standing. With top pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik recently finishing as runners-up in the Malaysia Open, the focus remains on closing the gap with world leaders from South Korea and Japan.