# Malaysia fall to the Chinese despite winning the first point
It was a roaring start that ended in disappointment as Malaysia allowed defending champions China to win their 12th Suhandinata Cup mixed team title in the World Junior Championships in Yogjakarta on Saturday.
The mighty Chinese came from a match down to beat Malaysia in the final at the Among Rogo Arena in the Indonesian city. It was repeat of last year’s final in Bilbao, Spain when the Malaysians went down tamely 3-0.
But this time around the Malaysians who had knocked out top seeds South Korea 3-0 in the semi-finals on Friday, were given a ray of hope by the mixed doubles pair Man Wei Chong-Pearly Tan Le Koong won a three-game battle 21-12, 9-21, 21-17 in 44 minutes.
The Chinese were unperturbed with the early setback and it was all square when Malaysian hope and Asian Junior (Under-19) champion Leong Jun Hao failed to deliver in his men’s singles match against Gao Zhengze. The Chinese won 21-14, 21-18 in 33 minutes and the fightback was on.
China stretched their lead to 2-1 through their men’s doubles Fan Qiuyue-Wang Chang beat Chang Yee Jun-Ng Eng Cheong 21-19, 21-17.
Sea Games champion Goh Jin Wei, 17, gave Malaysia a glitter of hope after winning the second game 22-20 to force a rubber in the women’s singles against Asian Junior Under-19 champion Han Yue. The Malaysian who lost the first game 16-21, failed to keep her momentum in the decider and went down tamely 8-21 in 57 minutes.
With that went Malaysia’s hopes of winning the mixed team title for only the second time after achieving victory in 2011 in Taiwan.
In the semi-finals Malaysia downed top seeds South Korea 3-0 while defeated Japan 3-1.
RESULTS
MIXED TEAM FINAL
CHINA 3 MALAYSIA 1
(China first)
XD: Fan Qiuyue-Li Wenmei lost to Man Wei Chong-Pearly Tan Koong Le 12-21, 21-9, 17-21
MS: Gao Zhengze beat Leong Jun Hao 21-14, 21-18
MD: Fan Qiuyue-Wang Chang beat Chang Yee Jun-Ng Eng Cheong 21-19, 21-17
WS: Han Yue beat Goh Jing Wei 21-16, 20-22, 21-8
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