Malaysia finished as champions of their Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) group after they beat Chinese Taipei 3-2 despite a shock loss to Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik at the final group match on Thursday.
Lee Zii Jia gave the national contingent the lead with a well deserved 21-16, 21-13 victory over Lin Chun-yi in the first singles.
The Malaysian needed 42-minutes for the victory which he secured rather comfortably thanks to his attacking strategy from the start.
The Malaysian used plenty of his smashes and quick follow-up shots to secure the win, and later gave himself credit for beating Lin.
“I played a smooth match today, and managed to implement all of my coach’s strategy. It was the first tough match of this tournament, as yesterday’s match (vs Kazakhstan) was more of a warm-up match.
“Lin has posted some good results recently, so I give myself credit for beating a rising star like him,” said Lee, who also commented on the late start of this tie that went ahead three hours later than scheduled.
“These delays happen in a team events. Plus we are playing at home so we just have to wait it out.”
Malaysia were expected to swiftly earn their second point through Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, but the world number five pair fell to a shocking 21-23, 17-21 defeat against Lee Jhe-huei-Lee Yang.
Chia-Soh were playing in this tournament for the first time after being rested against Brunei and Kazakhstan, but they could not get used to the court conditions at the Setia Alam Convention Centre fast enough, and their opponents swiftly capitalized.
The Malaysians game were also riddled with errors to allow Lee Yang-Jhe huei to come away with an unlikely point.
But up stepped Leong Jun Hao to restore order for the host, and the shuttler who stepped in for Ng Tze Yong won in straight games, beating Lee Chia-hao 21-19, 21-17 to give Malaysia the 2-1 lead.
Second doubles Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin confirmed the victory with a 21-19, 21-14 victory over Chinese Taipei's other new pair of Wang Chi-lin-Yang Po-han.
The chemistry of Goh-Izzuddin clearly stood out against Wang-Yang, who looked uncomfortable and hesitant with shuttles that came through the middle.
Added with the Malaysians' decisiveness, top spot in Group B was confirmed.
Eogene Ewe's straight game defeat in the final match meant little as Malaysia ran out 3-2 winners.
The men's team will now be drawn to play against either of the nations who finished second in their group.
The women's team, meanwhile, had in the morning session lost 1-4 to Thailand but still progressed to the last eight as top two in their group.
They will be drawn to play any of the champions in the other groups.
