TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Chou Tien-chen (周天成), Taiwan's top badminton player, advanced to the round of 16 at the PETRONAS Malaysia Open on Tuesday (Jan. 7) after defeating Su Li-yang (蘇力揚) in straight sets, 21-14, 21-17. Chou ranked ninth globally, faced Su, and was ranked 33rd for the first time in this season-opening tournament, where 30 Taiwanese pairs competed.
Chou initially trailed 0-2 in the first game but quickly bounced back with a six-point streak, ultimately securing a comfortable 13-6 lead. He maintained his momentum in the second game, starting with a 7-3 lead and overcoming a brief tie to clinch victory. This win marks a strong start for Chou, who recently engaged in charitable activities before heading to Malaysia.
At the end of last year, Chou visited Hengchun Elementary School (恆春國小) in Pingtung, donating badminton mats and rackets while playing friendly matches with the students. Additionally, he partnered with Make-A-Wish Taiwan (喜願協會) to organize a meeting with a young cancer survivor, gifting a signed jersey from his 2022 BWF World Championships semifinal match.
In an interview with the Central News Agency (CNA, 中央社), Chou expressed his joy at seeing the young fan's recovery and health improvement, stating that spending time with the kids is the happiest thing.
