2026-08-04,KUALA LUMPUR

Independent shuttler Lim Ming Hong enjoyed the biggest breakthrough of his World Tour career after coming through two rounds of qualifying to reach the main draw of a Super 300 tournament for the first time at the Korea Masters in Asan on Tuesday.

The world No. 143 from Ampang Jaya Badminton Club first accounted for South Korea's Choi Ji Hoon 21-16, 21-11 before returning to overcome another home player, world No. 221 Kim Hae Deun, 17-21, 21-9, 21-17 to seal his place in the men's singles main draw.

The opening victory over Ji Hoon was particularly noteworthy, with the South Korean ranked 86th in the world and among his country's leading men's singles players.

Ji Hoon was part of the South Korean squad that claimed bronze at the Asia Team Championships earlier this year before representing his country again at the Thomas Cup Finals, where he notched an impressive victoriy over world No. 20 Taiwan's Chi Yu Jen.

He had also beaten Hong Kong's veteran ace Angus Ng during the Asia Team Championships.

For Ming Hong, the result marks another important milestone in a career that has largely been built away from the spotlight.

While he has yet to make a significant impact on the World Tour, the Malaysian has steadily carved out a reputation on the lower-tier international circuit, winning the Future Series Nouvelle-Aquitaine title in France twice, in 2022 and again in 2025, while also finishing runner-up at the Italian Open last year.

His reward is a first-round meeting with England's world No. 60 Harry Huang.

Should Ming Hong continue his dream run by overcoming the Englishman, he is likely to face Hong Kong's Jason Gunawan in the last 16.