MALAYSIA had their worst ever finish in the World Junior Championships after losing 3-0 to Taiwan in the fifth-placing play-off in Chiba, Japan yesterday.Malaysia made a tactical move by fielding their fringe players comprising mostly 16-year-olds for the mixed team event, but failed to pose a threat.
Wu Hsiao Lin-Wang Chi Lin got the ball rolling for Taiwan by notching a 21-14, 21-18 win over Simon Marcel-Ryan Philip Dede in the boys' doubles before Lee Hsin Chia overcame Yap Rui Chen 21-11, 24-22 in the girls' singles.
Wang Tzu Wei earned Taiwan's winning point when edged Chong Yee Han 21-11, 16-21, 21-12 in the boys' singles.
"We tested new players today (yesterday) and although they lost, we are happy with their performance. We hope the exposure will help them become better players," said BA of Malaysia (BAM) junior development coordinator Haw Kim Tho.
"Our top shuttlers were rested as we want them to be fresh for the individual competition which starts on Tuesday (tomorrow)."
On Malaysia's medal hopes in the individual competition, he said it will depend on the draw.
"It is unpredictable in junior events as some nations do not expose their players regularly. China and Japan are among the contenders," Kim Tho added.
China, led by boys' singles shuttler Song Xue, regained their mixed team title by edging Japan 3-2. South Korea thrashed Indonesia 3-0 for the bronze.
Courtesy of New Straits Times
No comments:
Post a Comment