Why did Chen-Toh withdraw from BWF World Championships 2026 in India?

Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei are the reigning Mixed Doubles World Champions.

Malaysia’s reigning mixed doubles world champions, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, will not be defending their title at the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi. The Badminton Association of Malaysia has confirmed their withdrawal from the tournament.

According to BAM’s official statement, the decision comes as Ee Wei continues her rehabilitation following recent knee surgery. The withdrawal was made purely on medical advice, with the pair’s long-term recovery being prioritised over a title defence on badminton’s biggest stage.

BAM has also submitted an application to the BWF seeking to protect Ee Wei’s world ranking during her rehabilitation period, a standard procedure for players recovering from injury-enforced layoffs.

The association expressed hope for a smooth recovery and looks forward to welcoming the pair back to competition once Ee Wei is fully fit.

A golden year cut short

The withdrawal comes as a significant blow given the remarkable season Chen-Toh have had. The pair created history in Paris last year by becoming Malaysia’s first-ever mixed doubles world champions, with the triumph also making Toh only the second Malaysian player to win a World Championships gold medal in any discipline.

They stunned China’s Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin 21-15, 21-14 in a thrilling 40-minute final at the Adidas Arena to seal that historic victory.

Their 2026 season continued similarly. Chen-Toh became the first Malaysian mixed doubles pair to win the Indonesia Masters title, defeating Denmark’s Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Bøje in a three-game battle, marking a landmark achievement since the tournament’s inception in 2010.

Known for their aggressive style and quick transitions, the pair have developed into one of the strongest mixed doubles combinations on the BWF circuit.

Malaysia’s wider presence in New Delhi

Despite losing their star mixed doubles pair, Malaysia will still field a strong contingent at the World Championships.

The men’s doubles department carries significant hope with Paris Olympic Bronze Medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, alongside Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, both pairs having established themselves among the world’s elite this season.

Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have also enjoyed a strong 2026, successfully defending Malaysia’s presence atop the podium at multiple tournaments this season. In women’s doubles, Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan continue to be Malaysia’s flagbearers.

With Chen-Toh’s absence, the mixed doubles draw opens up significantly, though Malaysian badminton fans will be hoping their historic champions return to full fitness soon to continue building on what has been a landmark period for the discipline in the country.

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