Malaysia defeat Denmark to march into Sudirman Cup semi-finals
By TAN MING WAI - May 19, 2023 @ 9:38pm
Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia (L) shakes hands with Denmark's Viktor Axelsen after the Danish shuttler retired during the men's singles quarter-final match against at the 2023 Sudirman Cup world badminton championships in Suzhou in China'. - AFP PIC
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are assured of yet another Sudirman Cup podium finish after cruising into the semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Denmark today.
Points from Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik helped set up a last four meeting with South Korea tomorrow as Malaysia bid to reach their first-ever final in the world's mixed team championship.
World No 22 Tang Jie-Ee Wei got the ball rolling for Malaysia when they downed Mathias Christiansen-Alexandra Boje 15-21, 21-14, 21-7.
Zii Jia doubled the advantage without having to break a sweat as the highly-anticipated duel between him and world No 1 Viktor Axelsen did not materialise.
Axelsen had to withdraw from the match which lasted just five minutes. The reigning Olympic and world champion was leading 4-2 when he pulled his left hamstring.
Axelsen tried to play on but after giving away two points, he eventually decided to retire from the match.
All eyes were on Goh Jin Wei to seal a 3-0 win, but Mia Blichfeldt prevented that by winning the pulsating 69-minute battle 21-14,15-21, 21-19.
But with reigning world champions Aaron-Wooi Yik taking the court next, Malaysia were not to be denied a victory.
The duo turned in a superb display to outclass world No 11 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-17, 21-16 .
In another quarter-final clash, 12-time winners China proved too hot to handle for Indonesia with a dominant 3-0 win.
All the points were contributed by Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong, Shi Yu Qi and Chen Yu Fei.
QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS
Malaysia bt Denmark 3-1 (Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Mathias Christiansen 15-21, 21-14, 21-7; Lee Zii Jia bt Viktor Axelsen 4-4 ret; Goh Jin Wei lost to Mia Blichfeldt 21-14, 15-21, 21-19; Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bt Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-17, 21-16);
China bt Indonesia 3-0 (Zheng Si Wei-Huang Ya Qiong bt Rinov Rivaldy-Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja 13-21, 23-21, 21-11; Shi Yu Qi bt Anthony Ginting 22-20, 21-14; Chen Yu Fei bt Gregoria Mariska Tunjung 22-20, 21-12).
NST
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