KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 — Malaysia sailed into the quarter-final stage of the men’s badminton team event after receiving a ‘bye’ in the first round at the Asian Games, Incheon, South Korea from September 19 to October 4.

However, Malaysia faces an uphill task to dislodge favourites and defending champions China when they meet them in the semi-finals.

In a draw at the Grand Ballroom, Hotel Harbour in Incheon, today, Malaysia was fourth seeded and have to encounter China in order to eye the elusive gold medal.

Malaysia led by world No 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei is expected to breeze through either Macau or Mongolia in the quarter-finals.

China, the top seed also given a ‘bye’ in the opening round and will have minnows either Hong Kong or Maldives in the quarter-finals.

Host South Korea is expected to face a tough challenge from Japan in the quarter while Thailand and Indonesia will square off for the semi-final stage.

For the record Malaysia has never won a gold medal in this event and their best achievement was a silver medal in the 1966 Games in Bangkok and in Beijing in 1990.

Meanwhile, the women’s national team faces a contrasting encounter when they too receive a ‘bye’ in the opening round and most likely faces defending champion China in the quarter-finals.

Malaysia has never won a medal in this event in the Games’ history. — Bernama