BAMTC: Malaysia exit tournament after Indonesia defeat

The national contingent needed to win convincingly against their long-time rivals in order to stand a chance of making it to the quarter-finals, having lost by the same scoreline to Hong Kong on Wednesday.

But their hopes were dealt an early setback after mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai lost 21-17, 13-21, 18-21 against Dejan Ferdinansyah-Siti Fadia Ramadhanti.

The husband-wife pair, ranked fourth in the world, were expected to beat this new Indonesian pair who were only playing in their fourth tournament together.

But despite taking the lead and mounting a late comeback in the deciding game, the Malaysians failed to hold their nerves and conceded the all-important first point.

K.Letshaana swiftly conceded the next point, as the national women’s singles shuttler was no match for Komang Ayu and lost 12-21, 19-21 after 38-minutes.

Leong Jun Hao pulled back a point with a 11-21, 22-20, 21-12 win over Yohanes Saut in the men’s singles to keep the country’s hopes alive in the competition.

All hopes then rested on the shoulders of Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee, who needed to beat Meilya Trias-Rachel Allessya in the women’s doubles match-up.

But despite a valiant effort, Teoh-Go made crucial unforced errors in the deciding game and lost 21-18, 7-21, 17-21 in a match that went on for 86-minutes.

Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun were the only Malaysian shuttlers to maintain a 100 percent win record in this competition when they came from behind to beat Shohibul Fikri-Daniel Marthin 25-27, 21-17, 23-21 in a thriller.