National coaching director Rexy Mainaky labelled the national women's team as lacking in self-belief and negative after the contingent were thrashed 3-0 by an under-strength Indonesia at the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) quarter-finals.

It was a poor performance by the contingent, who were outclassed by their opponents who came to this team meet without their strongest line-up that excluded Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (women’s singles) & Apriyani Rahayu-Siti Fadia (women’s doubles).

“Indonesia did not come with their strongest team, so it should have been an equal contest on paper. But our players didn’t give enough of a fight to make it a contest, they simply didn’t have the self-belief.

“It was a missed opportunity, we wanted them to give their absolute best on court,” Rexy lamented.

Of the three defeats, Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah's loss was the most disappointing.

The Malaysian pair lost 14-21, 21-18, 15-21 against Lanny Tria-Ribka Sugiarto in a performance that reeked of confidence.

Especially in the third game, Tan-Thinaah simply allowed their opponents to attack at will and their desperate defending was shocking to see.

Rexy highlighted their shortcoming and called it self negative.

“Pearly-Thinaah admitted they didn’t play well. They started slow, their movements were laboured and they made a lot of mistakes.

“Thinaah especially was negative in her play and the Indonesians kept pressuring her. For instance when they smashed there was no follow-up, and when they defended it looked negative rather than to fight and take the initiative,” he added.

Tan-Thinaah’s defeat gave Indonesia a 2-0 lead.

In the first match, first singles K. Letshaana lost 12-21, 21-18, 13-21 against Putri Kusuma Wardani, and Wong Ling Ching confirmed the host’s early exit in the second singles.

This loss also means the women’s team failed to secure a berth to the Uber Cup in April as the top four teams from the BATC.

They now face an anxious wait to see if they can qualify based on the team ranking.