PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s wait to beat Japan in the Sudirman Cup continued after they went down fighting 2-3 in their final Group C tie in Xiamen, China, on Thursday (May 1).
It looked like the drought was about to end when Malaysia got off to a promising start by winning the first two points through Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Leong Jun Hao in the mixed doubles and men's singles events respectively.
Tang Jie-Ee Wei pulled off a 21-19, 21-18 win over scratch pairs, Hiroki Midorikawa-Arisa Higashino in just 39 minutes.
The lead was doubled when Jun Hao gave a gutsy performance to overcome world No. 8 Kodai Naraoka 21-8, 13-21, 21-18.
And it looked like a win was on the plate when the Asian champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik dominated the opening game against Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi with a commanding performance in the battle between former world champions.
But the Japanese pair, coached by former Malaysian shuttler Lee Wan Wah, fought back to force a rubber and eventually dashed Malaysia’s hopes with a 12-21, 22-20, 23-21 win in a 69-minute thriller.
Japan then narrowed the gap through Tomoka Miyazaki, who defeated Goh Jin Wei 21-14, 21-17 in 38 minutes.
"I think she is a good player and I’m honoured to be playing against her. I learned a lot of things from today’s match," said Jin Wei.
"To chase her with that kind of point gap was very tough. All I can say is, she’s way better than me, in court coverage, shuttle control, everything."
The deciding point went Japan’s way in the women’s doubles when world No. 2 Chiharu Shida-Nami Matsuyama outlasted Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah 18-21, 21-18, 21-18 in a fiercely contested rubber game.
The result saw Japan top Group C, with Malaysia joining them in the quarter-finals as the group runners-up.
The quarter-final draw will be conducted later tonight after the conclusion of all group matches.
