HAIER Malaysia is bringing the Haier Cup to more Malaysians with Sabah officially added as a new host state alongside Sarawak, Johor, Penang, and Selangor.
The fourth edition marks a significant milestone for the tournament, which has grown into a nationwide platform. By focusing on community engagement and active lifestyles, the Haier Cup has become a key fixture for players across the country to connect through badminton, one of Malaysia’s most beloved sports.
Haier Malaysia Managing Director Fan Jing said, “Now in its fourth year, the Haier Cup has continued to see encouraging response from participants and partners alike. What started as a competitive initiative has grown into a strong engagement platform, with consistently higher participation and stronger interest year on year. This speaks to the value of such initiatives in supporting individuals who have a passion for badminton, by providing them with an avenue to compete, improve and stay actively involved in the sport.
We see the Haier Cup not just as an annual event, but as an ongoing effort to stay relevant to our audiences in a more direct and experiential way. Haier Cup also reflects the brand’s continued commitment to building long-term affinity by engaging the youth and communities across Malaysia through active, community-driven experiences, while strengthening brand awareness and engagement through sport,” he added.
Haier Cup 2026: Play Beyond Limits
Building on its past success, the Haier Cup returns bigger, with a more dynamic format this year. This includes the introduction of an Open Category in Selangor for the first time, allowing broader participation across different player levels.
The tournament features three categories – Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles for participants aged 16 years and above. This year, the State Challenges also moves closer to players nationwide as Sabah joins as a new state host, alongside Sarawak, Johor, Penang, and Selangor.
Participants will compete for a total prize pool of up to RM90,000, including cash prizes, Haier products, and Maxx merchandise.
Haier Cup Junior: Next Gen Rise
Following strong demand and an encouraging response from its inaugural edition last year,
the Haier Cup Junior returns for its second year to nurture grassroots talents. The tournament provides a pathway towards professional badminton for aspiring locals while opening doors for international participation to elevate the level of competition and exposure.
Reflecting Haier’s commitment to developing the next generation of badminton talent in Malaysia, the Haier Cup Junior targets players aged 7 to 21 years old. The two-day
tournament on 18 – 19 July 2026 is expected to gather around 1,000 participants and
spectators. The competition will feature five categories including Boys’ Singles, Girls’ Singles, Boys’ Doubles, Girls’ Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Mixed Gender Singles.
Haier Be the Next Champion: Beyond the Competition
Haier is expanding its youth development through the Haier Junior Development 2.0
programme, an initiative designed to identify, nurture, and develop promising young talents across Malaysia.
In 2025, the initiative reached over 10,000 students nationwide, with 16 players securing state-level podium finishes at competitions such as Majlis Sukan Sekolah Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (MSSWPKL), Majlis Sukan Sekolah Selangor (MSS Selangor), Ignite Cup, and the Yang Dipertua Majlis Perbandaran Hang Tuah Jaya (YDP MPHTJ) Open. With its impact seen in the development of young talent, the initiative has garnered strong support from parents and local communities.
Looking ahead, Haier Malaysia aims to further strengthen this talent pipeline in 2026 by continuing to develop its current cohort while expanding its reach to new participants. The programme will engage another 10,000 students in collaboration with 20 schools nationwide through a more comprehensive, year-long training and competition framework.
As part of this next phase, selected juniors will participate in monthly local tournaments to build competitive consistency, alongside opportunities to compete in international tournaments for broader exposure. Complementing this is a daily training programme in partnership with the Ampang Jaya Badminton Club.
Haier Cup 2026 also spotlights emerging talent Lim Ming Hong, the latest addition to the Haier Elite Player Sponsorship Programme. Currently ranked 8th in Malaysia’s Men’s Singles category, Lim represents the next generation of competitive talent to watch. Through this partnership, he will carry Haier Malaysia’s support onto both local and international courts, marking a defining step in his professional journey.
