China topped Group A after a 4-1 win over Malaysia in their final group match in the Pembangunan Jaya Raya Badminton Asia Junior Mixed Team Championships in Bintaro, Jakarta on Sunday morning.However, the Chinese did not have it easy against the gritty Malaysians who grabbed the first point through Chang Yee Jun-Chua Yue Chern in the men’s doubles against Di Zijan-Wang Chang with a 13-21, 23-21, 21-18 win in 48 minutes.
Although China won the next three points – the women’s singles, men’s singles and in the women’s doubles, all in straight games – Malaysia never gave up against their opponents as seen in the last tie which was the mixed doubles.
China’s Guo Xinwa-Liu Xuanxuan had to slog for 57 minutes before prevailing 20-22, 21-18, 21-17 against Chia Wei Jie-Toh Ee Wei.
“I am pleased with the overall performance of my players,” said Malaysia chief coach Kwan Yoke Meng after the match, adding that he did not expect the win in the men’s doubles.
“It does not matter who we play…it looks like we will face Thailand, Indonesia or Korea in the quarter-final but we will not be easy meat,”
Malaysia reached the semi-finals last year before bowing out to Indonesia and Yok Meng, a former Thomas Cupper, believes that his team is capable of upsetting the form book in the quarter-finals.
In other matches this morning defending champions Korea outclassed Kazakhstan 5-0 in Group C while India also registered a similar scoreline against Sri Lanka in the group. Korea meets India later this evening in the battle for top spot.
In Group D host Indonesia romped to a 5-0 win over Singapore and will take on Japan in the final group match to decide the group champions and runners-up.
Meanwhile, in a Group B match, Hong Kong China beat Macau China 5-0 but both teams are already out of contention. Thailand meets Chinese Taipei to decide the top two slots. – Badminton Asia
RESULTS
GROUP A
China 4 Malaysia 1
GROUP B
Hong Kong China 5 Macau China 0
GROUP C
Korea 5 Kazakhstan 0
India 5 Sri Lanka 0
GROUP D
Indonesia 5 Singapore 0
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