Love-all? Malaysian Badminton Stars Serve Up Romance Rumors

Malaysian badminton players Cheng Su Yin, 22, and Arif Junaidi, 23, have seen dating rumours intensify after photos showed them together in casual settings, with a badminton community page calling them Malaysia’s “first Malay and Chinese couple in badminton.”

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Two of Malaysia’s rising badminton stars have become the talk of social media after photos surfaced suggesting they might be more than just training partners.

Cheng Su Yin, 22, and Arif Junaidi, 23, have been spotted together in what appear to be casual, non-training settings, leading to speculation about a possible romance between the athletes.

The buzz started when a local badminton community page posted photos of the pair, calling them Malaysia’s “first Malay and Chinese couple in badminton.”

The page made the bold claim that it was “no longer rumours,” though it provided no additional evidence to support this assertion.

The post has since attracted hundreds of comments from fans.

Different Courts, Same Training Ground

What makes this particularly interesting is that the two don’t actually play together professionally.

Cheng has been partnering with Hoo Pang Ron in mixed doubles since November 2023, a collaboration aimed at excelling on the international circuit.

Meanwhile, Arif teams up with Yap Roy King in men’s doubles, where they’ve been making their mark in various tournaments.

The duo is currently ranked 17th in the world as of 30 December 2025, a respectable position that reflects their growing prominence in international badminton.

Despite playing in different categories, both likely train at the same facilities and compete in similar tournaments, plenty of opportunities to get to know each other beyond the court.

However, it’s worth noting that as Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) players who train together and compete internationally, being photographed in casual settings could reflect usual teammate camaraderie rather than romantic involvement.

Fans Divided: Romance vs Career Focus

The speculation isn’t entirely new; social media chatter claims the two were spotted together during the World Championships, including a comment saying they were seen “dating in front of the Eiffel Tower.”

It was claimed that when asked about Arif during a recent interview, his doubles partner, Yap, reportedly joked that “someone else is already taking care of him,” adding fuel to the rumour mill.

Fan reactions have been typically Malaysian – a mix of excitement about the cross-cultural romance possibility and concern it might distract from their professional goals, with some advising to “focus on career first” as Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei and Datin Seri Wong Mew Choo did.

Both Cheng and Arif are considered promising talents still building their careers on the international circuit, with Arif’s world ranking of 17th highlighting his potential.

For now, it remains speculation as neither player has confirmed or denied the rumours, keeping their personal lives private while letting their rackets do the talking on court.

As one fan wisely noted: “They’re still young. Let them focus on badminton first.”

But then again, fans being fans, they have always been alert to any speculation and clues about players who are still single, often scrutinising social media posts and public appearances for romantic hints – especially waiting for confirmation from the players themselves.