BANGKOK: The national Uber Cup team will have to go back to the drawing board if they hope to make it far in the next edition.
They failed to meet the quarter-final target after losing 4-1 to China in their second Group D match at the IMPACT Arena in Muang Thong Thani.
Team captain Vivian Hoo, who failed to deliver a single point in the tournament, admitted that the team will have to work hard in order to end their wait of going beyond the group stage in future editions.
The last time Malaysia reached the last eight stage was in 2010 in Kuala Lumpur.
"I know we have failed in our quest to reach the quarter-finals, but at the same time, I am proud of the team's fighting spirit.
"Perhaps we lacked a little in our game plan, but I think we didn't do too badly in this competition.
“If we can maintain this form and train like this, I think we stand a good chance of doing well in the next Uber Cup," said Vivian, who together with her scratch partner Chow Mei Kuan lost 21-19, 21-15 to China's second doubles Huang Dongping-Yu Zheng.
Defending champions China got off the blocks real fast when they took a 2-0 lead through women's singles World No 5 Chen Yufei, who clawed back from a game down to beat Soniia Cheah 18-21, 22-20, 21-18, and women's doubles Chen Qingchen-Jia Yifan, who saw off Goh Yea Ching-Soong Fie Cho 21-9, 21-8.
Former world junior champion Goh Jin Wei, however, redeemed herself following her disappointing defeat to Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung on Monday when she pulled one back for Malaysia with a superb 21-9, 17-21, 21-13 upset over He Bingjiao in the second singles match.
With Vivian-Mei Kuan down and out, Lee Ying Ying stepped up to play for pride. The former world junior runner-up, however, was indifferent, as she went down in straight games 21-16, 21-15 to Gao Fangjie in the last match.
Malaysia play France in their final group tie on Wednesday.
"We know it won't mean anything, but we are going all out to beat France. Our pride is at stake," added Vivian.