Sudirman Cup: Malaysia lose 2-3 to Japan, finish group runners-up

Malaysia let slip a golden opportunity to finish as group champions at the Sudirman Cup, as Japan staged a stunning comeback to win 3-2 in Xiamen, China on Thursday.

The defeat means Malaysia will now face either South Korea, China or Indonesia in the quarter-finals, after those three countries won their respective groups.

The national team will be rueing this defeat, after they came within one point to finish as Group C champions.

But the failure of national men’s doubles Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to convert the final point against Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi proved costly in the end.

Chia-Soh ended up losing 21-12, 20-22, 21-23 after holding match point in the second and third game, with Malaysia already 2-0 up on aggregate coming into this match.

National mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei gave Malaysia the lead with a fine 21-19, 21-18 win over Hiroki Midorikawa-Arisa Igarashi, before Leong Jun Hao contributed the second point with a stunning win.

The world number 26 turned in a gritty performance to beat world number eight Kodai Naraoka 21-8, 13-21, 21-18 and put the team firmly on course to win this tie on aggregate.

But Japan started their comeback through Tomoka Miyazaki, who overcame Goh Jin Wei 21-14, 21-17 in the women’s singles.

When Chia-Soh fumbled against Hoki-Kobayashi who made it 2-2, all hopes rested on the shoulders of Pearly Tan-M.Thinaah to beat Nami Matsuyama-Chiharu Shida in the final match.

But despite their best efforts, the Japanese ended up winning 21-18, 18-21, 21-18 in an absorbing battle that lasted 83-minutes.