Mihae Kwon Shocks Yufei Long to Reach Semifinals at Panas Kuala Lumpur Open 2026

In a thrilling upset at the Panas Kuala Lumpur Open 2026, Mihae Kwon defeated second seed Yufei Long, marking a pivotal moment in her career. After struggling in previous tournaments, Kwon's victory propels her into the semifinals, where she will face Pei-Chuan Kao. This match highlights Kwon's resilience and tactical acumen, as she leverages her past experiences against Long. Meanwhile, Nasa Hatakeyama and Hien Truong also showcased impressive performances in their respective matches, setting the stage for an exciting semifinal round.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 16, 2026, 19:09 IST

Kwon's Stunning Victory

In a remarkable turn of events at the Panas Kuala Lumpur Open 2026, Mihae Kwon achieved a stunning victory over China's second seed, Yufei Long. After facing three consecutive Round of 16 exits in previous tournaments, Kwon triumphed with scores of 8-11, 11-8, 11-9, advancing to the semifinals. This win is particularly significant for Kwon, who is on the hunt for her first title on the PPA Tour Asia, while Long has already secured five medals in women's singles from the inaugural season, including three golds.

Kwon's previous best performance in women's singles was a Round of 16 finish. Her earlier defeats had followed a frustrating trend, including a three-game loss to Ting Chieh Wei at the Panas Malaysia Open, a straight-game defeat to Yu-chieh Hsieh at the Hong Kong Open, and another loss against Kaitlyn Christian at the Panas Malaysia Cup. However, she has now broken that cycle.

The match began with Long taking the first game 11-8, establishing her dominance early on. Yet, Kwon surprised everyone by bouncing back in the second game, showcasing a significant shift in momentum. She controlled the pace, executed cleaner shots, and penetrated Long's defense, leading to a decisive third game.

In the final game, both competitors pushed each other to their limits, but Kwon's efficient movement proved crucial. This advantage allowed her to maintain pressure and ultimately secure the match with an 11-9 finish, marking one of the most important victories of her career.

Despite her struggles in singles, Kwon was well aware of Long's strengths and weaknesses, having previously partnered with her at the Panas Malaysia Open in 2025, where they won a silver medal. This experience provided Kwon with valuable insights into Long's playing style, aiding her in this high-stakes quarterfinal.

Next, Kwon will face qualifier Pei-Chuan Kao from Vietnam in the semifinals. In the men's bracket, Japan's Nasa Hatakeyama, an unseeded player, continued his impressive run by defeating seventh seed Zane Navratil in straight games (11-8, 11-7). Earlier, Hatakeyama had upset second seed Hong Kit Wong.

Hatakeyama is set to compete against Will Shaffer in the semifinals. Meanwhile, top seed Hien Truong delivered an outstanding performance, winning both his singles match against Australia's Mitchell Hargreaves (11-6, 11-7) and later teaming up with Quang Do in the men's doubles quarterfinals to defeat George Wall and Joseph Wild (11-6, 11-6). Truong aims to capture his first title on the PPA Tour Asia, having reached two finals previously but falling short on both occasions. With both singles and doubles still in play in Kuala Lumpur, he is in a strong position for a potential double-title achievement that could transform his season.