KUALA LUMPUR, 15 Oct 2017:
Malaysia failed to avenge their defeat to China after losing 1-3 to the latter in the final match at the World Junior Mixed Team Badminton Championships in Yogyakarta yesterday.
The victory saw China capture their 12th title in the annual tournament better known as Suhandinata Cup, having emerged victorious 11 times since its inception in 2000.
Malaysia who lost 0-3 to China in last year’s final, however, took the lead after Man Wei Chong/Pearly Tan Koong Le defeated Fan Qiuyue/Li Wenmei; winning 21-12,9-21 and 21-17 in the mixed doubles event, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) website www.bwfbadminton.com.
China who are also the reigning champion, levelled the tie after Gao Zhengze edged Leong Jun Hao; 21-14 and 21-18 in the boys singles.
The young Great Wall squad clinched their second points through Fan Qiuyue/Wang Chang who dislodged Chang Yee Jun/Ng Eng Cheong; 21-19 and 21-17 in the boys doubles before Han Yue sealed the victory for China after securing a hard-fought 21-16, 20-22 and 21-8 over Goh Jin Wei in the girls singles event.
The singles event in all five individual events – boys singles and doubles, boys and girls doubles and also the mixed doubles event – will start tomorrow.
Elsewhere, Malaysia’s challenge at the Dutch Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton Tournament fizzled out after the only pair left standing, Lim Yin Loo/Yap Cheng Wen suffered an unexpected defeat to unheralded Indonesian pair in the semi-final match in the women’s doubles event.
Lim/Yap, the second seed was beaten by Della Destiara Haris/Rizki Amelia Pradipta;losing 8-21 and 21-23.
– Bernama