Malaysia has crashed out of the Li Ning BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships after a 3-1 defeat at the hands of China in the quarter-finals in Markham, Canada in a late tie on Wednesday.

Goh Jin Wei, the newly crowned Youth Olympics champion, could not deliver a crucial point which could have given Malaysia an even chance of dethroning the Chinese.

Instead, Jin, Wei lost her women’s singles match against Wang Zhiyi – the very opponent whom she had beaten in the Youth Olympics final in Buenos Aries, Argentina last month – flopped in Markham.

Playing her first singles match in the mixed team event, Jin Wei went out in straight games 21-19, 21-14 in 40 minutes and with that went Malaysia’s hopes.

The defending champions were too strong for the Malaysians who finished runners-up to the mighty Chinese in the last two editions – in Bilbao, Spain (2016) and Yogyakarta, Indonesia last year.

Malaysia last won the junior mixed team title in Chinese Taipei in 2011.

Despite a strong start against the Chinese by winning the first point through Chia Wei Jie-Toh Ee Wei in the mixed doubles with straight games 21-16, 21-17 win over Guo Xinwa-Liu Xuanxuan in 33 minutes the Malaysians failed to keep the momentum.

China drew level in the men’s singles when Li Shifeng outplayed Ng Tsz Yong 21-7, 21-19 in 48 minutes. The win swung the tie China’s way and went ahead 2-1 by winning the men’s doubles.

Chia Wei Jie-Chua Yue Chern did put up some resistance but the Chinese pair of Di Zijian-Wang Chang did enough for a 21-14, 24-22 win in 37 minutes.

Malaysia had hoped newly crowned Youth Olympics champion Goh Jin Wei to keep the team in the hunt and drag the tie for a decider in the women doubles but it did not materialize. RIZAL ABDULLAH 

 

- Advertisement -