Malaysia to face China in BAMTC quarter-finals after losing to India

Malaysia will meet defending champions China in the quarter-finals of the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships on Friday after they failed to finish top of Group B following a 4-1 defeat to India.

The knockout clash against the Chinese will be a tall order, compared to India who got a more favourable draw against Hong Kong after they easily outclassed the national team.

Lee Zii Jia’s recent slump continued to haunt him as the national men’s singles was beaten by H. S. Prannoy 18-21, 21-13, 25-23 in a 70-minute battle.

After winning the first game, Lee allowed Prannoy a way back in the second and showed good character in the deciding match to claw back an eight-point deficit, but he ultimately couldn’t complete the comeback.

Wong Ching Ling was never expected to beat decorated star P. V. Sindhu in the women’s singles, but gave a good account of herself in the 13-21, 17-21 defeat to the lanky Indian.

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik duly pulled a point back for Malaysia with a 21-16, 21-10 victory over scratch combination Dhruv Kapila-Chirag Shetty, who was missing his usual partner, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy.

The loss to India was confirmed after women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah fell in straight games 21-23, 15-21 against Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand.

Malaysia’s misery was complete after India’s mixed doubles pair Ishaan Bhatnagar-Tanisha Crasto took down Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei 21-19, 19-21, 21-16.

The national team will now go on to face a China team boasting a formidable line-up that includes Huang Dong Ping, He Ji Ting-Zhou Hao Dong and Zhao Jun Peng.