View Kulwut Wititsanan made new history for Thai badminton by winning the Malaysia Open 2026 after defeating China's world No. 1, Qi Yuxi, in the final.
On 11 January 2026, View Kulwut Wititsanan, the world No. 2 men's singles badminton player and second seed, delivered a masterpiece by winning the Malaysia Open 2026, a Super 1000 level tournament and the first event of 2026, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In the final, View faced Qi Yuxi, the world's No. 1 badminton player from China. The first game was a fiercely contested battle, with Kulwut relying on his composure and solid defense to win a thrilling 23-21, taking a 1-0 lead.
In the second game, with Kulwut quickly leading 6-1, Qi Yuxi suffered a shoulder injury and decided to withdraw from the match, resulting in View officially clinching the championship.
This title represents
his first championship of 2026,
his first Super 1000 level title in his professional career,
and he made history as the first Thai men's singles player in 16 years to win and reach the final of this tournament, following "Superman" Lieutenant Boonsak Ponsana who last did so in 2010.
He is the first Thai men's singles player to win a Super 1000 level title.