[UPDATED] Malaysia kicked out of Uber Cup

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia is automatically kicked out of 2022 Uber Cup as they lost to Thailand in the second group stage match held at the Impact Arena, Bangkok today.

Goh Jin Wei, who recently retired to play professionally, shattered hope for Malaysia to earn one point as Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon proved too strong for her in the rubber set 14-21, 21-14, 21-15.

Jin Wei who was victorious yesterday against Denmark’s Line Christophersen could not repeat the success against the world number eight shuttler.

The women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, on the other hand, pulled off another stunning win against Jongkolphan Kititharakul-Rawinda Prajongjai after succeeding Danish pair Maiken Fruergaard-Sara Thygesen in a straight set yesterday.

The world number 11 duo beat their eighth-ranked Thai opponents in a rubber set 16-21, 21-19, 21-17, giving Malaysia their first point.

Pearly-Thinaah had bested the Thai pair twice in the past at the 2021 All England Open Badminton Championships.

“We are proud to contribute this point for the country and proud to say that we did really well because we are confident with each other.

“Me and Pearly also had to rotate quite fast (to hit the shuttlecock back to the opponent). We understood nothing is impossible,” Thinaah said.

However, debutant Myshia Mohd Khairul, who went up against world number 10 Thai shuttler Pornpawee Chochuwong went down in a straight set 22-20, 21-10.

Malaysia continued to fall behind Thailand as they lost another point through scratch pair Valeree Siow-Teoh Mei Xing.

Thailand’s sister duo Benyapa-Nuntakarn Aimsaard easily outperform the Malaysians in a straight set 21-9, 21-14 in 32 minutes.

This followed by Tan Zhing Yi in the fifth match after she crashed against Busanan Ongbamrungphan in a straightforward 21-19, 21-6. – The Vibes, May 9, 2022