Bukit Jalil Turns into a Sea of National Pride as Fans Rally Behind Shuttlers at Malaysia Masters 2026

Written by: NST Sports Desk

Summary by: Adriana Aucasa

Sports | Credits: New Straits Times

Photo by ellinnur on depositphotos.com

SUMMARY OF NEWS

Bukit Jalil, 22 May 2026: The home crowd turned the Unifi Arena (previously known as Axiata Arena) into a massive celebration of national pride during the PERODUA Malaysia Masters 2026. The Super 500 tournament, which has a big USD 500,000 prize pool, attracted thousands of local fans who came out to support Malaysia's top badminton players.

This strong home support has been a huge motivation for national athletes, including mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, as well as other main players like Pearly Tan, Thinaah Muralitharan, Man Wei Chong, and Tee Kai Wun. Facing tough competition from international players, the loud backing from the stands gave the local shuttlers a major emotional boost during their matches.

Organized by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and sponsored by Perodua, the event is an important mid-year stop on the BWF World Tour. The organizers mentioned that the fans' energy shows how badminton really brings people together in Malaysia, turning the stadium into a hub for national unity.

Even though playing at home comes with a lot of pressure, the players shared that the electric atmosphere from the crowd actually boosted their confidence. This connection between the fans and the players helped them get good results in the early rounds as the tournament moves closer to the finals.

BAM and its partners see this high fan turnout as a reflection of Malaysia’s deep love for badminton. They hope that keeping up this kind of support will help local players succeed globally and keep Bukit Jalil as a top venue for international sports.