THE over-reliance on mixed doubles Yap Roy King-Gan Jin Err backfired for the national junior squad when they failed to clear the group stage of the World Junior Championships in Kazan, Russia.
This is the first time Malaysia have failed to clear the group stage since the introduction of the mixed team event in 2000.
Since day one of the competition, Malaysia had done everything right and were on track to reach the quarter-finals.
However, the 3-2 defeat to Hong Kong in their final Group B tie on Tuesday ended their dream.
As a result, Malaysia finished second in the group and failed to reach the knockout stages.
“Credit must be given to Hong Kong who played really well. Our team just couldn’t handle the pressure when they needed to,” said national junior coach Kwan Yoke Meng yesterday.
“Our players played well but it was a pity because we were relying on our mixed doubles to deliver the winning point.
“However, they crumbled under pressure and played below par.”
Malaysia got off to a great start when boys’ doubles Ching Kai Feng-Lwi Sheng Hao gave them the lead following an 18-21, 21-13, 21-18 win over Hung Kuei ChunLui Chun Wai.
Hong Kong, however, levelled the score through their girls’ doubles Lui Lok LokTsang Hiu Yan, who saw off Go Pei KeeTeoh Le Xuan 21-23, 21-19, 21-13.
Boys’ singles Kok Jing Hong put Malaysia ahead again when he defeated Jason Gunawan 21-11, 19-21, 21-5, but girls’ singles K.Letshanaa couldn't finish it off when she went down 21-17, 17-21, 21-19 to Happy Serena Cheng.
The onus was on Malaysia Junior International Challenge champions Roy King-JingErr, butthe duo failed to live up to expectations, going down 21-19, 21-14 to Chun Wai-Yeung Pui Lam in just 39 minutes.
“It was unfortunate but a lesson to be learned.
“At the junior level, anything can happen, and the players now know this for themselves.
“Having said that, I want to motivate them and help them to bounce back stronger for the individual events,” added Yoke Meng.
The last time Malaysia won the mixed team event was in 2011 in Taiwan, while Goh Jin Wei came out tops in the girls’ singles eventlast year in Markham, Canada.