Malaysia has a mountain to climb against top seeds Japan in the Sudirman Cup world mixed team championships but is “ready to make it tough” for their opponents in their quarter-final clash in Nanning, China on Friday.
“We need to be careful in picking the team against, The Japanese have strength in every department but the players are ready to face the challenge,” said Malaysia’s coaching director Wong Choong Hann from Nanning.
“Of course we are fighting a mightier team but the team morale is high and looking forward to scaling new heights.”
According to Choong Hann, many factors will be considered before deciding on the women’s singles – which is a toss between reigning world junior champion and Youth Olympics gold medallist Goh Jin Wei and Soniia Cheah.
“Soniia performed well although we lost to China in the opening match in the group (1D),” added Choong Hann.
Soniia, who is ranked 23, gave China’s All-England champion and third-ranked Chen Yufei a run for her money before the Chinese prevailed 21-15, 21-23, 21-14. Jin Wei lost tamely to India’s Olympics silver medallist P.V. Sindhu 12-21, 8-21 in Malaysia’s 3-2 win.
Japan is top heavy in every department. The men’s singles are powered by world champion Kento Momota while in the women’s singles Japan has Nozomi Okuhara and Akane Yamaguchi, ranked No 2 and No 4 respectively. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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