Malaysia to play Japan again in Sudirman Cup quarters
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia lost 3-2 to Japan in the Group C tie at the Sudirman Cup in Gold Coast, Australia on Wednesday.
But fret not, they will have a chance to quickly settle the score on Friday when they face Japan again in the quarter-finals at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.
The draw was conducted immediately after the final group ties.
If Malaysia exact revenge over Japan, they will likely take on favourites and top seeds China in the semi-finals.
It was all over for Indonesia despite defeating Denmark 3-2 in Group D tie on Wednesday. They had to win over Denmark with a bigger margin to qualify after their shock defeat to India on Tuesday but they failed.
Group D champions Denmark face Thailand on Thursday while India meet China on Friday.
In the tie against Japan on Wednesday, world No. 4 men doubles pair V Shem-Wee Kiong fell 21-18, 17-21, 16-21 to Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda.
They will be given the chance to make up for their disappointments in the quarter-final match.
The 2015 world junior champion Goh Jin Wei will also have a chance to make amends in the women's singles. She had a disastrous opening game against Akane Yamaguchi before going down 6-21, 17-21.
World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei restored order by blowing away Yu Igarashi 21-8, 21-5 in just 34 minutes and the steady shuttler should keep his winning streak going.
Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean, who were fielded in the women's doubles instead of Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo lost to world No. 1 Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi.
But credit goes to the duo for giving the Olympic champions a good fight before going down 17-21, 18-21.
The show stealers were National No. 2 mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing. The duo put up a fantastic show to beat Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino 21-16, 16-21, 21-19.
Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/badminton/2017/05/24/malaysia-to-play-japan-again-in-sudirman-cup-quarters/#Gm0H1tosXXVFbIQa.99
