MALAYSIAN shuttler KT Jestin Mendis narrowly missed out on gold at Mizuno Omotenashi Cup Japan 2026, falling just short after a valiant campaign against formidable Japanese opponents.
Partnering with Thomas Brandt from Germany, they fought hard to reach the final of the Men’s Doubles 110+ category (combined age of two players between 110 to 119) to face Japan’s Imai Kazuo and Miyazaki Aki.
The Malaysian-German duo started strongly, taking the first set convincingly, 15-6.
The Japanese pair responded by edging the second set 15-13 and finished strong in the deciding set, sealing the match 15-7.
Jestin expressed deep appreciation for his partner, highlighting Brandt’s constant encouragement throughout the tournament.
“He kept my spirits high both before and during matches.
“Although we didn’t win gold, playing against world-class Japanese players in the professional category is something I will cherish for the rest of my life,” he said.
The result marks a significant improvement for Jestin and Brandt, who exited at the group stage in last year’s edition of the tournament.
Held at Kyoto City Gymnasium, the tournament featured over 500 participants from a dozen countries, showcasing high-level competition across multiple age groups.
In the Mixed Doubles 110+ category, Malaysian pair Goh Cheng Huan and Lee Sock Hui clinched the gold medals.
Brandt partnered with Soo Boey Tjeng to reach the semi- finals of the same category but were defeated by Japanese pair Momogami Koichiro-Takashina Yoko, who eventually lost in straight sets to Goh-Lee.
Meanwhile, Jestin and Cheryl Goh, partnering in the Mixed Doubles 100+ category, fell short in the group stages.
Reflecting on his journey, Jestin noted that securing another silver medal at Omotenashi Cup marked an important milestone, following his silver at the Sawadee Cup held in Pattaya, Thailand last year.
“With training as part of my daily routine, I am now preparing for more major tournaments in the coming year,” he said.
