Malaysia off to an easy start in World Junior Badminton

Proud moment for Petaling BC players -Chen Tang Jie and Man Wei Chong after winning the Celcom Axiata Malaysia International Youth Under-19 boys title in Terengganu.

PETALING JAYA: Chen Tang Jie could not have asked for a better start in his debut at the World Junior Championships in Bilbao, Spain.

The 18-year-old Petaling Badminton Club shuttler partnered Toh Ee Wei to beat Mexico’s Luis Armando Montoya Navarro-Nicole Marquez 21-13, 21-5 in just 18 minutes in the mixed doubles to give Malaysia a flying start in the mixed team event. Malaysia went on to whip Mexico 5-0 in the opening Group E1 tie.

Tang Jie was happy to get a chance to play albeit against weak opponents.

“As a club player, playing in the world juniors is a big thing. It is an honour to represent Malaysia,” said Tang Jie.

Tang Jie joined the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) in 2011, but was dropped in 2013. He went on to join Petaling BC.

In September, he did well with Man Wei Chong to win the boys’ Under-19 doubles title at the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Youth Championships. It earned them a place in the national team for the world juniors.

Malaysia will face Zambia on Thursday in their final group tie. They are expected to make the last eight against either Asian runners-up South Korea or Indonesia.

RESULTS

Group A1: China bt Canada 5-0.

Group A2: Australia bt Scotland 3-2.

Group B1: Poland bt Belgium 4-1.

Group B2: Taiwan bt Moldova 5-0.

Group C1: Japan bt New Zealand 5-0.

Group C2: Hong Kong bt Georgia 5-0; Singapore bt Peru 5-0.

Group D1: Slovenia bt Iceland 5-0.

Group D2: Denmark bt Latvia 4-1, Macau bt Ghana w.o.

Group E1: Malaysia bt Mexico 5-0 (Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Luis Armando Montoya Navarro-Nicole Marquez 21-13, 21-5; Leong Jun Hao bt Jesus Arturo Barajas Lopez 21-9, 21-9; Goh Jin Wei bt Adelina Quinones 21-2, 21-6; Hoo Pang Ron-Ameer Amri Zainuddin bt Jesus Arturo Barjas Lopez-Luis Armando Montoya Navarro 21-7, 21-10; M. Thinaah-Tan Sueh Jeou bt Nicole Marquez-Adelina Quinones 21-10, 21-5).

Group E2: Czech Republic bt Lithuania 5-0; Belarus bt Mongolia 4-1.

Group F1: Indonesia bt Norway 5-0.

Group F2: South Korea bt Sri Lanka 5-0.