ALOR SETAR: The national men’s squad have crashed out of the semi-finals of the Badminton Asia Team Championship after losing 3-1 to China at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in Alor Setar earlier today.
In the first match, national men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia was no match for his opponent Shi Yuqi who beat Zii Jia in straight games 21-18, 21-9.
National men’s doubles Goh V- Shem-Tan Wee Kiong then handed Malaysia a much needed boost when they showed that they were still very much a pair to be reckoned with despite mixed performances since they were reunited at the end of last year by earning a point for Malaysia thanks to their 21-18, 21-12 win over China pair He Jiting-Tan Qiang 21-18, 21-12.
In the second men’s singles match, Soong Joo Ven followed in Zii Jia’s footsteps when he too went down in straight games to Qiao Bin 21-17, 21-8.
The nation’s hopes of a spirited comeback in the ensuing matches were all but doused when second doubles Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi were no match for their opponents as they too went down in straight games to Han Chengkai-Zhou Haodong 21-15, 21-13, as China advanced to the final of the championship at Malaysia’s expense.