PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's youngsters have little time to dwell on their Asian Mixed Team Championships quarter-final exit, with the individual competition set to begin on Wednesday (July 1).
There was speculation that China deliberately lost 2-0 to Japan in their final Group B tie to avoid a tougher quarter-final, paving the way for another meeting with Malaysia.
But the national juniors could not turn the tie into a contest as they went down 2-0 at the Yatsushiro City Gymnasium despite fielding several of the world's top-ranked players.
China have now ended Malaysia's campaign in three straight editions, including the 2024 semi-finals in Yogyakarta and last year's quarter-finals.
Team manager Datuk Dr Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad, however, insisted the defeat should not be viewed as a failure, saying the experience would only benefit the players ahead of the individual competition.
"We have to admit China were the better team today (yesterday). They are the defending champions and once again showed why they are one of the world's badminton powerhouses.
"Although we lost in the quarter-finals, I am still proud of the team's performance. We topped Group D after beating Macau, South Korea and Indonesia," said Wan Khalik.
Wan Khalik is hopeful Malaysia can still return home with a medal, banking doubles players Ahmad Redzuan Zulwaqqarizal and Low Zi Yu in the individual competition.
"Our focus now shifts to the individual competition starting tomorrow. I hope Zi Yu and her partner Genevie (Lim), as well as Redzuan, can deliver a medal for Malaysia," he added.
Second seeds Redzuan-Zi Yu received a first-round bye in the mixed doubles and will begin their campaign in the second round.
Zi Yu and Genevie also advanced directly to the second round of the girls' doubles, where they will face Thailand's Thitiwarada Buakaew-Nathida Buramart.
Meanwhile, Redzuan and Isyraf Hafizin will open their boys' doubles campaign against the Philippines' John Lanuza-Ralph Dalojo after also receiving a first-round bye.
Malaysia will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's edition in Surakarta, where the team returned home empty-handed.
China bt Japan 2-1; Hong Kong bt Thailand 2-1.
Quarter-finals: China bt Malaysia 2-0 (Luo Jingyu bt Kong Wei Xiang 11-6; Feng Yilang-Wei Jianzhen bt Damien Ling-Irfan Shazmir 22-17; Yin Yiqing bt Carine Tee 33-22; Tan Kexuan-Wei Yueyue bt Genevie Lim-Low Zi Yu 44-30; Feng Yilang-Tan Kexuan bt Ahmad Redzuan-Low Zi Yu 55-39; Luo Jingyu bt Kong Wei Xiang 11-1; Feng Yilang-Wei Jianzhen-Isyraf Hafizin-Ahmad Redzuan 22-4; Yin Yiqing-Carine Tee 33-8; Tan Kexuan-Wei Yueyue bt Genevie Lim-Low Zi Yu 44-15; Feng Yilang-Tan Kexuan bt Ahmad Redzuan-Low Zi Yu 55-30); Thailand bt Indonesia 2-0; Hong Kong bt India 2-1; Japan bt Taiwan 2-0.
