BATC: Malaysian women's team thrash UAE 5-0

The Malaysian women’s team, as expected, helped themselves to a 5-0 bashing of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) opening match in Shah Alam on Wednesday.

Goh Jin Wei, fielded as the first women’s singles, got the ball rolling when she overcame Nurani Ratu 21-13, 21-9 in under half an hour for the lead.

A lean looking K.Letshaana doubled that advantage with an easy 21-11, 21-14 victory over Madhumitha Sundarapandian 21-11, 21-14 in 28-minutes, before Wong Ling Ching made it 3-0 with a 21-4, 21-12 win over Sreeyuktha Sreejith in the third singles.

National women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah duly made it 4-0 with 21-4, 21-5 thrashing over Nayonika Rajesh-Madhumitha in 21-minutes.

Tan-Thinaah later said they were looking forward to working under new doubles coach Muhammad Miftakh.

“We have been only working with him for two weeks, so it’s still new. But every coach has a different style and comes with a different degree of experience. We are excited to learn and work with him,” they said.

Miftakh, who joined earlier this month, is an Indonesian coach who will work alongside Hoon Thien How in the women’s doubles department.

Miftakh had previously worked with world number two pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty, and also played a vital role in helping India win their maiden Thomas Cup in 2022.

Meanwhile in the final match of the day, Tan Zhing Yi-Teoh Mei Xing completed the rout against UAE with a 21-4, 21-14 victory over Zainaba Reem- Sreeyuktha.

The men's team will be in action later at 5pm to face Kazakhstan.

Victory would confirm their passage to the quarter-finals, having won 5-0 against Brunei in their opening tie on Tuesday.