PETALING JAYA: The national junior badminton squad face a daunting task in their bid to at least retain the bronze medal at the World Junior Mixed Team Championships, as they are set to take on 14-time champions China in the quarter-finals on Thursday (Oct 9) after finishing top of Group C with a convincing 2-0 win over Australia in their final group tie on Wednesday (Oct 8).
Meanwhile, China booked their place in the quarter-finals after topping Group D.
Under the new competition format, Malaysia got off to a confident start when Loh Zi Heng-Tan Zhi Yang defeated Phillip Halim-Landon Kurniawan 9-5 in the boys’ doubles.
Eng Ler Qi then extended the lead with an 18-11 win over Jesslyn Carrisia in the girls’ singles, before Aina Hatta-Joinne Lee cruised past Mimi Ngo-Maureen Clarissa Wijaya 27-17 in the girls’ doubles.
Lim Boon Le continued the winning momentum with a 36-24 triumph over Shrey Dhand in the boys’ singles, while Zi Heng, teaming up with Aqilah Ramdan, completed the first set with a 45-35 win against Jayden Lim-Victoria Tjonadi in the mixed doubles.
In the second set, Damien Ling-Shazmir Shahrul prevailed 9-7 over Landon Kurniawan-Wey Shawn Ng, followed by Lim Zhi Shin’s dominant 18-8 victory against Jesslyn Carrisia.
Aqilah, partnering Low Zi Yu, made it another convincing win with a 27-9 result over Carrisia-Faye Huo, before Ayu Fu Sheng powered past Shrey 36-10.
The tie was wrapped up in style by Datu Anif Datu Asrah-Nicole Tan, who sealed Malaysia’s 2-0 overall win with a 45-14 triumph over Lim-Tjonadi.
