KUALA LUMPUR: Despite putting up a fight, the Malaysian women's badminton team are out of the running for the Uber Cup quarter-finals after conceding a second straight defeat in the group stage today.
On the back of a narrow 3-2 loss to Denmark a day earlier, Malaysia once again found themselves on the receiving end, this time succumbing to a 4-1 defeat to Thailand in Group C in Bangkok.
The Malaysian team's decision to drop the underperforming S. Kisona nearly bore fruit, as two-time former world junior champion Goh Jin Wei gave world No 8 Ratchanok Intanon a run for her money before going down 14-21, 21-14, 21-15 in the first singles match.
Malaysia's top women's doubles Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah maintained their unbeaten run in Bangkok when they came from behind to level the score with a 16-21, 21-19, 21-17 upset over world No 8 Jonkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai.
Uber Cup debutante Myisha Khairul nearly caught the Thais napping, but world No 10 Pornpawee Chocuwong was never going to let slip the match and instead regained the lead for her team with a 22-20, 21-10 win.
The Thais, who reached the final of 2018 edition on home soil, secured the tie through their second doubles duo, sisters Benyapa-Nuntakarn Aimsaard, who chalked up a 21-9, 21-14 win over scratch pair Valeree Siow-Teoh Mei Xing.
World No 12 Busanan Ongbamrungphan wrapped up the tie, when she saw off another debutante Tan Zhing Yi 21-19 21-6 in the third singles match.
Malaysia will see through their campaign when they play minnows Egypt tomorrow, while Thailand play Denmark to determine the group winners.
Only the top two teams will advance to the knockout stage.
RESULTS
Thomas Cup
Group B - China bt France 5-0, Denmark bt Algeria 5-0,
Group C - India bt Canada 5-0;
Group D - Malaysia bt England 5-0, Japan bt USA 5-0.
Uber Cup
Group C - Denmark bt Egypt 5-0, Thailand bt Malaysia 4-1.