KUALA LUMPUR – It was a joyous moment for Malaysia as the young national badminton team checked into the semi-finals of 2021 Sudirman Cup at Vantaa, Finland, after a gap of 12 years.
It was a hard-earned victory as Malaysia had to endure a long battle that went on for almost six hours before subduing arch-rivals Indonesia 3-2 and match their best outing in the mixed team championship, last achieved in 2009 in Guangzhou, China.
It was also Malaysia’s first success over Indonesia in the Sudirman Cup after losing all three previous encounters. The first was in the group stage of the 1999 edition in Copenhagen, Denmark, which Indonesia won 4-1.
Tokyo Olympics men’s doubles bronze medallists, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, ensured a bright start as they powered past world number one, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo.
Just as in the Olympics quarter-final, Aaron-Wooi Yik, were clinical throughout the match as they brushed aside the challenge from the Indonesian pair in straight sets, 21-12, 21-15 in 33 minutes.
2019 SEA Games women’s singles champion, S. Kisona, came very close against world number 21 Gregoria Mariska Tunjung who kept her nerve to level the score for Indonesia in a close encounter. Gregoria won the epic contest in 67 minutes 22-20, 18-21, 21-19.
All England champion Lee Zii Jia was in his element as he secured the second point for Malaysia by trouncing Anthony Sinisuka Ginting 21-11, 21-16, and in the process recorded his maiden victory against the Indonesian after four previous meetings.
In the first clash between both players in the round of 32 at the 2019 French Open, Anthony won 21-16, 21-8.
Despite a spirited display by the up-and-coming women’s pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, they failed to upstage the Olympics gold medallists Greysia Polii-Apriyani Rahayu who gave Indonesia a lifeline by levelling the score at 2-2 by winning 22-20, 17-21, 21-18.
In the final match, mixed doubles pair Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See produced a heroic effort, particularly in the rubber game, as they stunned world number four Praveen Jordan-Melati Daeva Oktavianti to chalk up the winning point for Malaysia.
Hoo-Cheah won the first game 21-19 but were never in it in the second and lost 21-9.
However, they came out fighting in the third game and won the close affair 21-16.
A tricky road lies ahead for Malaysia in the semis as they will lock horns with 2019 runners-up Japan. The tie will be at 9 pm Malaysian time (4 pm local time) today and they will be out to avenge the 4-1 thrashing suffered in their Group D tie on September 30.
Japan booked their berth following a 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei.
Meanwhile, defending champions China edged Denmark 3-2 and will face South Korea, who emerged victorious against Thailand 3-2, in the other semi-final at 3 pm Malaysian time (10 am local time).
The national side kicked off their Group D campaign by recording a narrow 3-2 win over England on September 27, followed by a 5-0 rout of Egypt to confirm a spot in the last eight. – Bernama, October 2, 2021
