KUALA LUMPUR — The curtain is set to rise on the 2026 Perodua Malaysia Masters at the Axiata Arena from 19 – 24 May, and one of the tournament’s most compelling storylines is the return of Anthony Sinisuka Ginting to the main men’s singles draw after a three-year absence from this event. The Indonesian, a former top-flight contender, has been elevated into the main draw after originally entering qualification, a shift made possible by a series of late withdrawals by higher-ranked players.
Ginting’s comeback follows a challenging period marked by injury struggles and a significant drop in rankings. Throughout early 2026 he has worked to rebuild form, including appearances in qualifying rounds at other World Tour stops. His reinstatement into the Malaysia Masters main draw signals confidence in his recovery and sets up renewed hopes of deep tournament progress.
However, the build-up to this Super 500 event has also been affected by notable absences that could reshape competitive dynamics. The world’s second-ranked women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah Muralitharan have withdrawn due to Pearly’s recurring back injury, ending Malaysian hopes for a strong showing in that discipline.
In the men’s singles field, Malaysian star Lee Zii Jia also declined a late qualifying opportunity, leaving a gap in the draw that has been filled by lower-ranked players and helping facilitate Ginting’s main draw inclusion.
Off the court, Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao has been in the news for missing training sessions due to personal matters, though he remains focused on his campaign in front of the home crowd.
With action set to begin this week, the tournament promises intense competition across all categories, even as fans watch closely to see whether returning stars like Ginting can convert opportunity into results on one of badminton’s prominent stages.
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