PETALING JAYA: Debutants Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan are the youngest players in the team, but they made the biggest impact.
On Saturday (April 25), the world junior silver medallists saved Malaysia from embarrassment by securing a narrow 3-2 win over Turkiye in their opening Group B Uber Cup tie in Horsens.
In the match at Forum Horsens, the 16-year-old Zi Yu and Noraqilah, 19, defeated Yasemen Bektas-Zehra Erdem 21-18, 21-19.
Earlier, K. Letshanaa gave Malaysia the perfect start after beating world No. 30 Neslihan Arin 21-16, 13-21, 21-13.
However, Malaysia were left uneasy when second singles player Wong Ling Ching suffered a surprise 17-21, 21-15, 18-21 defeat to Ozge Bayrak.
“Actually, before we came here, we had a training camp of around 10 days in Herning. During the training camp, I was dealing with hip and back injuries," said Ling Ching in an interview with Badminton World Federation.
"The hip injury has fully recovered, but the back is still not so good. The coaches decided to field me, thinking I could regain some confidence and rhythm through playing.
"But it did not go so well. Everything felt out of control. I just thought maybe I could do better in the next game."
Goh Jin Wei put Malaysia back in front after beating Zehra Erdem 21-14, 21-13.
Malaysia’s lead was wiped out after M. Thinaah-Ong Xin Yee went down 22-20, 19-21, 19-21 to Bengisu Ercetin-Nazlican Inci, leaving the tie level at 2-2.
Malaysia will face South Africa on Sunday (April 26), with a win set to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Uber Cup.
