Malaysia’s Kok Hong Huan came from a game down to defeat Israel’s Misha Zilberman in the Round of 32 at the 2026 Macau Open. Huan recovered after losing the opening game to claim a 13-21, 21-11, 21-9 victory and secure his place in the tournament’s Round of 16.
Zilberman made the stronger start, controlling the rallies and dictating play during the opening game. The experienced Israeli maintained his advantage throughout and comfortably claimed the first game 21-13 to move within one game of victory.
Facing elimination, Huan responded impressively in the second game. The Malaysian increased the pace of the rallies, improved his consistency, and took control early. His aggressive approach paid off as he leveled the match with a convincing 21-11 win.
The momentum remained firmly with Huan heading into the deciding game. Continuing to dominate from the baseline, he limited Zilberman’s scoring opportunities and steadily built a comfortable lead.
Despite Zilberman’s efforts to recover, Huan maintained his composure and closed out the deciding game 21-9. The victory completed an impressive comeback after dropping the opening game and earned the Malaysian a place in the next round of the BWF World Tour Super 300 event.
The result highlighted Huan’s resilience and ability to adjust after a slow start, while Zilberman was unable to regain the momentum he enjoyed in the opening game.
Standout Performances
• Kok Hong Huan won the match 13-21, 21-11, 21-9.
• Misha Zilberman claimed the opening game 21-13.
• Huan responded with a dominant 21-11 second-game victory.
• The Malaysian sealed the deciding game 21-9.
• Huan advanced to the Round of 16 after completing a comeback.
Turning Point
The second game proved decisive as Huan completely shifted the momentum with a commanding 21-11 victory. Carrying that confidence into the decider, he dominated the final game to complete the comeback.
Match Statistics
Competition: Macau Open 2026 (BWF World Tour Super 300)
Stage: Round of 32
Final Result: Kok Hong Huan def. Misha Zilberman 13-21, 21-11, 21-9
Games Won
• Kok Hong Huan: 2
• Misha Zilberman: 1
Game Scores
• Game 1: Zilberman 21-13
• Game 2: Huan 21-11
• Game 3: Huan 21-9
Result
• Kok Hong Huan advances to the Round of 16
Sources
• BWF Tournament Software
• Macau Open 2026 Official Draw
• Badminton World Federation Tournament Results