At full stretch: Ong Xin Yee contributed to Malaysia’s strong showing by defeating India’s Rakshitha Sree in three games.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia were in fine form in the mixed team event of the Asian Junior Championships as they topped Group C to storm into the quarter-finals in Yogjakarta yesterday.
Malaysia, who had beaten Bangladesh 5-0, chalked up another impressive 5-0 win over India and this should give them a favourable draw during the knockout stage which begins tomorrow.
The four Group winners will not meet each other in the last eight and this means the Malaysians can avoid playing favourites China and South Korea early.
In the crucial match against India, Low Han Chen-Chong Jie Yu secured the first point by beating Samarveer-Radhika Sharma 18-21, 21-15, 21-10 in the mixed doubles.
Eogene Ewe overcame Lakshay Sharma 21-14, 21-15 in the men’s singles while Ong Xin Yee battled hard to win her match against Rakshitha Sree 21-13, 5-21, 21-15 to give Malaysia an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Bryan Jeremy Goonting-Aaron Tai made it 4-0 by winning the men’s doubles tie 21-12, 21-19 against Nicholas Raj-Tushar Suveer.
Xin Yee and Carmen Ting defeated Rakshitha Sree-Shriyanshi Valishetty 21-14, 14-21, 21-12 in the women’s doubles to complete Malaysia’s victory.
Team manager Joanne Quay said the players have adapted well and played impressively to beat Bangladesh and India.
“It was a very good performance from them. It’s just the beginning and hopefully, better things are coming,” said Joanne.
“We hope the players can continue to perform the way the did today (yesterday) in the knockout stage.”
In the other matches, Indonesia warmed up for their top-of-the-table clash against China with a 5-0 win over Vietnam in Group A. The two traditional rivals will meet each other today.
In Group B, Japan secured a narrow 3-2 win over Taiwan while South Korea thrashed the United Arab Emirates 5-0 in Group D.
RESULTS
Group A
Indonesia beat Vietnam 5-0
Group B
Singapore beat Philippines 3-1; Japan bt Taiwan 3-2
Group C
Malaysia beat Bangladesh 5-0 (Low Han Cen-Clarissa San bt Mohd Nazmul Islam-Smrity Rajbongshi 21-16, 21-14; Lee Jan Jireh bt Shahed Ahmed 21-8, 21-8; Ung Yi Xing bt Mathena Madhurjyo 21-5, 21-8; Bryan Goonting-Aaron Tai bt Shopu Naim-Sifat Ullah 21-8, 21-12; Chong Jie Yu-Lai Ting Cen bt Jesmin Akter-Mathena Madhurjyo 21-8, 21-1);
Malaysia beat India 5-0 (Low Han Chen-Chong Jie Yu bt Samarveer-Radhika Sharma 18-21, 21-15, 21-10; Eogene Ewe bt Lakshay Sharma 21-14, 21-15; Ong Xin Yee bt Rakshitha Sree 21-13, 5-21,
21-15; Bryan Goonting-Aaron Tai bt Nicholas Raj-Tushar Suveer 21-12, 21-19; Ong Xin Yee-Carmen Ting bt Rakshitha Sree-Shriyanshi Valishetty 21-14, 14-21, 21-12.); India beat Hong 5-0; Hong Kong beat Bangladesh 4-1
Group D
S. Korea beat UAE 5-0.
