KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia had to settle for bronze at the World Junior Mixed Team Badminton Championship in Spokane, United States, after being outplayed 3-0 by China in the semi-finals yesterday.
Low Han Chen-Chan Wen Tse found Asian Junior Championships silver medallists Liao Pin Yi-Zhang Jia Han too hot to handle and succumbed 21-11, 21-16 in the opening mixed doubles.
In the subsequent boys' singles, Eogene Ewe fought valiantly for 42 minutes but was unable to overcome the formidable Hu Zhe An, losing 21-17, 21-14.
All hopes rested on Siti Zulaikha Azmi to keep Malaysia in contention, but she couldn't prevail against the powerful Xu Wen Jing, falling 21-17, 21-18.
It ended Malaysia's hopes of reaching their fifth final in the tournament, also known as the Suhandinata Cup.
Malaysia won the title in 2011 and were runners-up in 2009, 2016, and 2017.
The bronze medal was Malaysia's eighth podium finish since the team event's inception in 2000.
China will take on Indonesia for the title later today. Indonesia thumped Taiwan 3-0 in the last four.
Malaysian shuttlers will switch their attention to the individual events which get underway on Monday.