Just like in 2024, China knocked Malaysia out of the Thomas Cup, but this time the national team fared worse by losing 3-0 in the quarter-finals.

Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who managed to win a point by beating China’s top pair Liang Wei Keng-Wang Chang in the semis two years ago, failed this time with a 22-24, 14-21 defeat to effectively kill off any hopes of an upset.

National singles shuttlers Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh were not expected to win their matches against much superior opponents in Shi Yu Qi and Li Shi Feng who are ranked world number one and seven respectively.

While Leong did manage to take a game off Shi in the 10-21, 21-16, 9-21 defeat, the same couldn’t be said of Chia-Soh who lost for a record 10th time to the Chinese pair in just 35-minutes.

As the highest ranked and most experienced individuals in the team, Chia-Soh were expected to at least give this world number five a massive test, with many hopeful they would win to level the overall score.

But instead, the world number two squandered two game points and lost the first game, and later completely lost their focus to succumb in the second game and put China in the driving seat.

The Malaysians, who have only won three times in 13 matches against the Chinese, barely mustered an explanation for their defeat.

“They were better at the front court and controlled the second game. Their game hasn't changed much and they are a consistent pair,” said Chia-Soh.

Li confirmed China’s passage into the semi-finals with a 21-14, 21-13 victory over Justin Hoh, leaving the scratch pairing of Goh Sze Fei-Tee Kai Wun who were scheduled to play in the second men’s doubles, as mere disappointed spectators.

Overall, it was a dismal outing from the national contingent who at one stage were even tipped to win this prestigious team event for the first time since 1992.