EVEN before the mixed team compound final, Malaysia knew they had little chance against the world champions.
But the least they could do was put up fight. And that was what they did.
Juwaidi Mazuki and Fatin Nurfatehah Mat Salleh were beaten by just three points by India’s Pravin Ojas and Surekha Vennam 135-138 at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Centre.
In the first end, India took a 40-39 lead, but Malaysia came back in the second end, levelling it to 78-78.
In the third end, the Malaysians were just separated by one point as the tie was 117-118, but India pulled through to win 138-135.
Fatin admitted that facing the Indians in the quarter-final was tough luck.
“It was a tough match. They have won so many World Cups and also the World Championships,” she said.
“We tried our best but it wasn’t enough.”
Fatin hopes that next year, the national compound team will be sent for more competitions in order to be better for the 2025 SEA Games and the 2026 Asian Games.
“This year, we managed to go for three World Cups and nearly got to the final of one of them.”
While Fatin ends her campaign in Hangzhou, Juwaidi will now focus on the men’s team quarter-final against Iran today.
